Senate Parliamentarian Blocks Federal Funding for Trump Ballroom

A senior Senate official blocked a Republican push to fund security upgrades for President Donald Trump’s planned White House ballroom with taxpayer money.

Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled Saturday that the funding, as included in a spending bill, violates the chamber’s budget rules, Senator Jeff Merkley said.

Trump has repeatedly stated the ballroom would be financed through $400 million in private donations. However, Republicans sought to allocate $1 billion for Secret Service security upgrades tied to the ballroom and other planned underground facilities.

Democrats sharply criticized the proposal, calling it an unnecessary luxury project while many Americans face rising living costs, including higher fuel prices.

Trump promoted the project heavily, calling it ‘the finest building of its kind anywhere in the world.’

According to Merkley’s office, MacDonough determined the security funding could not be passed through the fast-track budget process Republicans are using to bypass the 60-vote threshold.

Republicans hold a 53-47 majority, making it difficult to secure Democratic support if the ruling stands.

Merkley said Democrats would continue to challenge any Republican attempt to rewrite the legislation to comply with Senate rules.

The disputed funding is part of a broader $72 billion spending package focusing on immigration enforcement, which Republicans aim to pass without Democratic support.

Democrats oppose additional funding for Trump’s immigration policies without broader reforms, particularly after January incidents in Minnesota where U.S. citizens were killed during operations involving federal immigration agents.

Republicans argued the security funding is necessary to protect the president, citing an April incident in Washington where an alleged gunman reportedly attempted to enter a black-tie media event attended by Trump.

Trump said he expects the ballroom to be completed by September 2028, near the end of his second term.