Senate GOP strips up to $1B for Trump ballroom security from immigration enforcement bill

Key points

• US President Donald Trump speaks to the press near the construction site of his proposed ballroom at the White House in Washington, DC, on May 19, 2026. Senate Republicans on Wednesday stripped up to $1 billion in security funding for President Donald Trump's proposed White House ballroom and the Secret Service from a revised immigration enforcement bill.
• GOP leaders privately concluded that the funding proposal risked derailing the broader immigration bill, both politically and procedurally, according to several media reports.
• The provision also sparked political concerns among some Senate Republicans, who worried the funding could make the party appear out of touch as voters struggle with high costs ahead of the midterm elections in November.
• Trump had personally pushed lawmakers to authorize the funding for the controversial ballroom project and the Secret Service.
• Trump administration officials argued the money was necessary in light of the alleged April 25 assassination attempt...