President Trump Pressures Senate Leader Over Parliamentarian's Ruling on Ballroom Funding
President Donald Trump has urged Senate Majority Leader John Thune to dismiss Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough after she ruled against including funding for a presidential ballroom in a budget bill. The ruling was based on the Byrd Rule, which restricts non-budgetary items from passing with a simple majority. Trump, who has pledged to fund the ballroom through private donations, is seeking $1 billion in Secret Service funding, with $220 million earmarked for the East Wing project. Thune, however, has refused to entertain the idea of firing MacDonough, emphasizing the procedural nature of reconciliation bills and the typical frustrations with the parliamentarian's decisions. Republicans are revising their proposal to align with the Byrd Rule and are seeking favorable rulings to advance the bill, which also includes significant funding for Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 
