Aerial view from the top of the Washington Monument shows construction crews as they continue site preparation for a planned White House ballroom in the area of the former East Wing in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 2, 2026. REUTERS/Ken Cedeno
The White House is scrambling to change the minds of congressional Republican lawmakers who are turning against the proposed $1 billion funding in the GOP reconciliation package to construct "security" elements of President Donald Trump's ballroom project, Politico reported on Tuesday.
"Secret Service Director Sean Curran lobbied Senate Republicans for the funding Tuesday, explaining that only a subset of the funding would potentially be used on the ballroom, but met a skeptical reception nonetheless," said the report. "Curran and other White House officials are expected to continue making the case in the coming days, saying the money is needed to secure the ballroom project and other venues frequented by the president."
Meanwhile, noted congressional reporter Meredith Lee Hill on X, "Trump officials are planning to make an aggressive push for the $ in closed-door meetings with Rs tonight and through the week — with some Rs saying the WH seems determined to secure it."
However, many key Republicans are putting their foot down against the idea.
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), a vulnerable battleground-district lawmaker, bluntly told one reporter, “Not happening here,” and said he does not support any federal funding going to the ballroom.
Trump has long promised the ballroom project, which has already seen the East Wing of the White House torn down, would not use any taxpayer money and would rely solely on corporate donations.