WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senate Republicans have formally removed a proposal to spend $1 billion on security improvements for President Donald Trump’s planned White House ballroom, clearing a major obstacle to advancing a broader immigration enforcement funding package.
The funding had been included in a Senate Judiciary Committee proposal that would provide approximately $70 billion for immigration-related agencies through the remainder of Trump’s term. However, revised legislative text released Wednesday no longer contains the ballroom security funding.
The proposal became controversial after Senate Democrats vowed to oppose it and use procedural tactics to force politically difficult votes for Republicans ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer claimed Democrats successfully pressured Republicans into abandoning the funding request.
Complicating matters further, the Senate parliamentarian previously ruled that the ballroom security funding did not qualify under budget reconciliation rules, the process Republicans are using to bypass a Senate filibuster. The ruling significantly reduced the proposal’s chances of remaining in the legislation.
The revised bill now focuses primarily on immigration enforcement funding, including approximately $31 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), $13 billion for Customs and Border Protection, and $2.5 billion for the Department of Homeland Security.
The White House downplayed the removal, arguing it resulted from parliamentary restrictions rather than a political retreat. Trump has previously stated that the ballroom’s estimated $400 million construction cost would be covered by private donors, though the administration sought federal funds for security enhancements.
Republican leaders are expected to move forward with votes on the broader immigration package as they seek long-term funding protections for border and immigration enforcement agencies.
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