politics
Senate Republicans Question $1 Billion Secret Service Request Tied to White House Ballroom Security
Senate Republicans expressed skepticism over a $1 billion funding request from the Secret Service that includes $220 million for security enhancements to a new ballroom in the White House East Wing. The agency detailed the breakdown during a closed-door briefing, with the remainder allocated to training, visitor screening and counter-drone measures.
May 12, 6:10 PM·3m read7 sources
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Senate Republicans emerged from a closed-door briefing still seeking more details on a $1 billion Secret Service funding request included in a broader immigration enforcement package. The request has drawn particular scrutiny because part of it would support security upgrades tied to construction of a new ballroom in the White House East Wing, a project once promoted as privately funded.
The Secret Service Director provided lawmakers with a one-page breakdown of the proposed spending during the Tuesday meeting. According to that document, $220 million would go toward "above and below ground" hardening of the East Wing project, including bulletproof glass, drone detection technology, chemical filtration systems and other national security features.
An additional $180 million is slated for a new White House visitor screening center. The remaining $600 million would fund Secret Service training updates, protection for officials at high-risk venues, counter-drone and biological threat capabilities, and security for major national events.
Officials emphasized that none of the funds would support non-security improvements to the White House. The East Wing Modernization Project includes a 22,000-square-foot ballroom capable of seating 1,000 guests, along with other renovations.
Several Republican senators left the briefing wanting additional justification for how the $1 billion figure was calculated. One senator compared it to a business proposal, saying that if an employee requested that amount without clear backing, the response would be that the number appeared to be made up.
Another senior Republican said the agency needs to return with more specifics on the exact use of each portion of the funding. A third noted that while boosting protection for the president following recent assassination attempts is important, the price tag requires careful explanation to the public as an investment of taxpayer money.
