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Senate Parliamentarian Blocks Trump Ballroom Security Funding From GOP Budget Bill

The decision undercuts the White House strategy to fund security upgrades through a fast-track budget bill.

Overview

  • The Senate parliamentarian, who ruled Saturday, said the $1 billion security package tied to the White House and the planned ballroom cannot be included in the Republicans’ reconciliation bill.
  • Republican leaders say they will try to rewrite the language, yet support is shaky as some GOP lawmakers question the optics and Democrats vow to challenge any revised attempt.
  • In a combative court filing this week, the Justice Department urged a judge to lift the pause on above‑ground work, calling critics victims of “Trump Derangement Syndrome” and casting the project as a national‑security need.
  • The filing described a far larger complex than a venue space, including an underground bunker, Top Secret military installations, and a state‑of‑the‑art hospital and medical facilities for the president.
  • The National Trust lawsuit led a judge on March 31 to halt above‑ground construction pending review, with some work allowed on appeal and a June 5 hearing set to determine the project’s near‑term path.