Senate Parliamentarian Blocks Trump's Ballroom Security Funding, GOP Seeks Alternatives
President Donald Trump's initiative to secure taxpayer-funded security upgrades for a proposed White House ballroom has encountered a setback. The Senate parliamentarian ruled that a $1 billion Secret Service provision could not be included in a GOP immigration enforcement bill as it was drafted. This decision requires Senate Republicans to revise the language of the bill to retain the funding within the budget reconciliation process. The provision, which includes $220 million for security upgrades related to the East Wing ballroom project, was deemed outside the jurisdiction of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The White House and Senate Republicans argue that the funding is for Secret Service security measures, not direct construction costs for the ballroom. The push for these security measures follows an attempted shooting at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner in April. 
