White House ballroom funds hang over GOP push to fund ICE
Summary
Senate Republicans are working on a plan to fund immigration enforcement agencies without Democratic help. Their bill also includes $1 billion for security upgrades to President Trump’s East Wing makeover, which involves a new ballroom and other facilities.Key Facts
- The Senate is back from recess to advance a $72 billion funding package for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through 2029.
- The package allocates $38 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and $26 billion for Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
- It includes $1 billion for the Secret Service to support security upgrades for the East Wing Modernization Project at the White House.
- The East Wing project includes a large ballroom, underground national security, and health care facilities.
- President Trump announced the East Wing overhaul last year and started demolition in October 2025.
- The White House says the project is necessary for security and hosting large events and insists donations, not taxpayer dollars, pay for the ballroom.
- Democrats oppose the funding, calling it wasteful during economic hardship, and plan to fight the bill despite having limited power to block it.
- Senate Republicans have a majority, allowing them to pass budget-related bills with a simple majority, bypassing the usual 60-vote requirement.
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