Overview
- Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin told Republicans on Wednesday that the Secret Service cannot use private donations for required security tied to the East Wing project, introducing a new case for taxpayer funding.
- The White House and Secret Service ran three closed briefings this week, including a Thursday session at the White House, to defend the request as security-only spending after the Washington Hilton shooting at the press dinner in April.
- A briefing document obtained by lawmakers outlined about $220 million for White House hardening tied to the new ballroom, plus funding for a $180 million visitor screening facility, training, evolving-threat technology, and security for major events.
- Key Republicans say support is slipping as they seek specifics, with Sen. Lisa Murkowski calling for a full breakdown and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick urging removal of ballroom-related costs from the broader enforcement package.
- The provision faces a high risk of being stripped under Senate budget rules, and experts warn that integrated features such as ballistic glass and reinforced columns make it hard to separate security from construction while a judge has paused above-ground work without explicit congressional approval.