Republicans Introduce Bill for $400 Million White House Ballroom

Senate Republicans announced legislation on Monday to allocate $400 million in federal funding for constructing a 90,000-square-foot ballroom on the White House grounds, citing national security needs after an assassination attempt on President Trump over the weekend.

The bill, introduced by Senators Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Katie Britt of Alabama, and Eric Schmitt of Missouri, follows the Saturday incident at the Washington Hilton where a gunman breached security during the White House Correspondents' Association dinner.

Authorities charged Cole Tomas Allen, 31, with attempting to assassinate Trump after he rushed a checkpoint armed with a shotgun, handgun, and knives.

Graham stated the ballroom would include military features and a Secret Service annex, partially offset by customs fees. He emphasized it as essential for protecting the presidency, not a vanity project, and noted private donations could cover items like china.

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt described the project as critical for national security, allowing safe gatherings for the president, vice president, and Cabinet without threats. President Trump praised the Secret Service's response and reiterated that the ballroom would be drone-proof with bulletproof glass, making it more secure than off-site venues like the Hilton.

“America has a problem, and we intend to fix it. This is not about Trump. Paul announced separate legislation to advance the project.”

Democrats largely oppose the project, arguing it lacks congressional approval and raises corruption concerns with private donations. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York criticized it as a vanity project, urging focus on lowering living costs and ending the war in Iran instead.

The project faces legal hurdles, including a lawsuit from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. President and CEO Carol Quillen stated construction continues until at least June 5, as a lower court injunction was overruled by a federal appeals court, but congressional approval is required.

The appeals court decision allowed work to resume. Graham prefers passing the bill through regular order needing 60 Senate votes but is open to alternatives like attaching it to a party-line bill funding Immigration and Customs Enforcement amid the ongoing Department of Homeland Security shutdown.

Comcast Corp. is among corporate donors for the project. Sources indicate the legislation is unlikely to gain bipartisan support, potentially complicating efforts to fund homeland security agencies. No one in the ballroom was harmed, as Allen was stopped before entry.