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Senate Republicans expected to ditch $1bn funding plan for Trump’s ballroom
TL;DR
Senate Republicans are likely to abandon a $1bn funding proposal for security measures related to Trump's White House ballroom due to backlash from within their party. Concerns about diverting taxpayer dollars amid rising living costs have intensified ahead of the midterm elections.
Key points
- Senate Republicans expected to ditch $1bn funding proposal
- Backlash from party members over taxpayer dollar diversion
- Proposal linked to $70bn ICE funding bill
- Senate Democrats oppose the ballroom funding
- Concerns about midterm election voter alienation
Mentioned in this story
US Immigration and Customs EnforcementDonald TrumpSenate DemocratsSenate RepublicansUS Senate
Senate Republican leaders are expected to ditch a $1bn proposal for security measures tied to Donald Trump’s White House ballroom following a backlash from members of their own party.
Under pressure from Trump, top Republican lawmakers tried to latch the proposal on to a roughly $70bn bill to restore funding to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the border patrol.
But the plan prompted intense anxiety among congressional Republicans, who feared diverting taxpayer dollars toward Trump’s “East Wing modernization project” amid mounting cost of living concerns across the US would risk alienating voters ahead of November’s midterm elections.
Senate Democrats pledged to oppose the funding for Trump’s ballroom, and push “vote after vote” in a bid to force Republicans to publicly endorse it.
Republican John Thune, the US Senate majority leader, acknowledged “ongoing vote issues” with the wider bill on Wednesday, as the party’s leaders try to gauge support. They hope to pass the bill this week, and send it to the House of Representatives, before departing for a week-long recess around the Memorial Day holiday.
Addressing reporters on Capitol Hill on Thursday, Chuck Schumer, the US Senate’s top Democrat, accused Republicans of trying to “sneak” ballroom funding into the bill. “The American people caught them red-handed, and now they’re trying to drop that hot potato,” he said.
The East Wing of the White House was reduced to rubble last year to make way for Trump’s plan for a gilded ballroom. Polling has indicated that most Americans oppose the controversial project, which remains embroiled in litigation in federal court.
“There will never be another building like this built, that I can tell you,” the US president told reporters on a tour of the construction site earlier this week. Touting a string of corporate donors providing funds, he insisted: “This is a gift to the United States of America.”
The Associated Press contributed reporting
Q&A
Why are Senate Republicans abandoning the $1bn funding proposal for Trump's ballroom?
Senate Republicans are facing backlash from their own party members who fear that diverting taxpayer dollars to Trump's project could alienate voters amid rising living costs.
What is the connection between the ballroom funding and the ICE funding bill?
Republican leaders attempted to attach the $1bn ballroom funding proposal to a $70bn bill aimed at restoring funding for US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and border patrol.
What are Senate Democrats planning regarding the ballroom funding?
Senate Democrats have pledged to oppose the funding for Trump's ballroom and plan to push multiple votes to force Republicans to publicly endorse or reject the proposal.
