Sen. Rosen Proposes Redirecting $1B from Secret Service to COPS, Byrne Grants and Officer Benefits

Sen. Jacky Rosen proposed stripping $1 billion in White House security funding from Republicans’ immigration enforcement funding package on May 12, 2026, and redirecting it to law enforcement programs. One amendment would use the full amount to fund two years of the COPS hiring program and two years of the Public Safety Officers’ Death Benefits program.

A second would support one year of the Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance grant program. “The American people are suffering. These are taxpayer dollars, we do not need a billion-dollar ballroom,” Rosen stated on May 12, 2026.

She added that “the most important thing is to talk about what that $1 billion will do. And there are so many things it could fund. ” The Secret Service requested $1 billion for security and provided a spending justification document to Congress on May 12, 2026.

Of that total, $220 million would be spent on “the above and below ground hardening requirements of the East Wing Modernization Project,” according to the agency. The Secret Service stated that none of these funds will be used to support non-security improvements at the White House.

The East Wing Modernization Project includes a new 22,000-square-foot ballroom seating 1,000 guests, a new office suite for the first lady and a replacement movie theater.

The Secret Service’s $1 billion justification breaks down further into $180 million for a new White House visitor screening facility, $175 million for training agents in the modern threat environment, $175 million to improve security at frequently visited venues, $150 million for the Special Operations Division to counter drone and biological threats, and $100 million for increased security at high-profile national events.

Senate Republicans included the $1 billion for the Secret Service in a $72 billion filibuster-proof budget reconciliation package focused primarily on immigration enforcement. President Trump previously estimated the ballroom’s construction cost at $400 million and pledged to cover the ballroom construction through private donations.

Senate Republicans heard from Secret Service Director Sean Curran on May 12, 2026, for details about the spending. Senate Majority Leader John Thune stated on May 11, 2026: “Apparently the need for law enforcement is not obvious to my Democrat colleagues. ” Rosen’s amendments serve as a direct rebuttal.

“The president has the largest bully pulpit. He says he wants it to go ahead,” she stated on May 12, 2026. Senate Republicans can only lose three votes to pass the immigration enforcement bill. Sen. Jon Husted stated he needed to learn more about the $1 billion and had been asked about the ballroom a dozen times on May 12, 2026.

Rep. Jodey Arrington is asking for an itemized list of where the ballroom funding money would go. President Trump stated: “We have a ballroom that's under budget. It's going up right here. ” In response to a reporter noting the price doubled, President Trump stated: “I doubled the size of it, you dumb person.