Construction continues on the planned White House ballroom, in the area of the former East Wing, in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 28, 2026. REUTERS/Kylie Cooper
Senate Republicans removed nearly $1 billion in White House ballroom security funding from their immigration package after the Senate parliamentarian determined the provision violated budgetary requirements.
The ruling would have allowed Democrats to filibuster the bill and block $70 billion in ICE and border patrol funding, according to CNN.
GOP leaders acknowledged the provision was procedurally problematic and politically risky.
Some Republican senators expressed concern, stating that allocating funds for ballroom upgrades while Americans faced cost-of-living pressures ahead of midterm elections would appear out of touch. Administration officials had attempted to clarify that approximately $200 million would fund East Wing improvements, with remaining funds directed toward other security measures following the spring assassination attempt against President Donald Trump.
The revised immigration bill now proceeds without the controversial ballroom security provision.
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