US Senate Removes $1 Billion for Trump White House Ballroom from Immigration Bill
The US Senate has voted to progress a stalled immigration spending bill, following the removal of $1 billion in funding that had been designated for President Donald Trump's proposed White House ballroom. The allocation was purportedly for US Secret Service security enhancements as part of the construction, a request made after a shooting incident in April at a hotel gala attended by Trump.
Trump had maintained that the new addition was necessary for hosting state functions and modernising security facilities, repeatedly claiming it would be funded through private donations.
The reconciliation bill aims to provide approximately $72 billion for immigration agencies. Democrats had contended that the security funds for the ballroom should not be linked to this legislation, a position upheld by the Senate's rule-keeper.
Senators approved advancing the legislation, which funds agencies including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol, by a 53-45 vote. The measure will now undergo debate and amendment before a final vote, a process expected to extend for several hours.
Should it pass, the bill will proceed to the House of Representatives before reaching President Donald Trump for his signature. The decision to strip these funds represents a setback for Trump's plans for the East Wing demolition and subsequent construction, although the broader impact on the project remains unclear.
