Senate Parliamentarian Rejects $1 Billion White House Security Funding

The Senate parliamentarian ruled Saturday that a $1 billion security funding proposal for the White House campus and President Donald Trump’s planned ballroom cannot be included in a budget reconciliation bill. The decision blocks Republican efforts to pass the money with a simple majority as part of a roughly $72 billion package focused on immigration enforcement.

Senate Democrats said the ruling came after they argued the provision was too broad for the narrow bill.

MacDonough determined the funding falls under rules that require 60 votes for most legislation. Her office said the measure did not meet the criteria for inclusion in reconciliation. Republicans said they will revise the legislation. Ryan Wrasse, spokesman for Senate Majority Leader John Thune, wrote on X that the process is normal. “Redraft. Refine. Resubmit,” he posted.

The proposal included $220 million for White House complex hardening, $180 million for a visitor screening center, and $600 million for Secret Service training, protection, and counter-drone measures. Republicans said the funds address security needs after an assassination attempt last month.

President Trump has said the ballroom itself would be built with $400 million in private donations and completed around September 2028.

Schumer called the ballroom “a disgrace” and said Republicans should reject the funding. Sen. Jeff Merkley, the top Democrat on the Senate Budget Committee, said Democrats are prepared to challenge any revised version. Republicans have defended the request as a national security matter.

Some senators said they needed more details on how the administration arrived at the $1 billion figure. " — Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore. The ruling does not end the broader spending bill. Republicans still plan to bring the immigration enforcement package to a vote along party lines.