Topline
The Senate is expected to begin voting Thursday on the $72 billion immigration enforcement bill that was supposed to be a vehicle for $1 billion to help pay for President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom project—but Republicans appear ready to omit the funding from the package.
President Donald Trump talks to reporters about his proposed White House ballroom next to the worksite on May 19, 2026 in Washington, DC. The Senate parliamentarian ruled this week that taxpayer funds in the budget reconciliation package cannot be used for a $1 billion provision intended to fund security for Trump’s White House ballroom. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
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Key Facts
Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., told reporters Wednesday, “the security money has come out, and my understanding is it’s because the votes aren’t there.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., also acknowledged there were a “couple snags” Republicans were trying to work out with the immigration enforcement bill, including “issues related to the East Wing modernization project.”
At least five Republican senators—Sens. Bill Cassidy, R-La., Thom Tillis, R-N.C., Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Rand Paul, R-Ky.—have either said they won’t vote for the ballroom funding without more information or have expressed reservations about it.
Portions of the bill were voted out of committee Wednesday and sent to the full chamber for a vote, but the ballroom funding was not included.
Tangent
Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled Saturday the ballroom funding wasn’t allowed to bypass the 60-vote filibuster threshold, making it near impossible to pass as part of the immigration enforcement bill. The immigration enforcement bill, like other high-priority changes to fiscal legislation, is allowed to pass by a simple majority. Trump called for MacDonough to be fired over her ruling, but Thune rejected his demand.
Key Background
Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee included the funding for the White House ballroom in their portion of the immigration enforcement bill earlier this month. The $1 billion is earmarked for the Secret Service, including security enhancements to the new White House East Wing, where the ballroom is being built. Some Republicans, and Trump, have used the shooting at the White House Correspondents Association dinner to justify the need for a high-security large-event venue. Republicans are voting on the package to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection this week after those two agencies were omitted, at Democrats’ request, from the Department of Homeland Security funding package passed at the end of April to end the government shutdown.
Big Number
$200 million. That’s how much Trump initially said the ballroom would cost, funded entirely by private donations. He has since raised the price tag to $400 million, which doesn’t include the $1 billion in Secret Service funding.