Senate Republicans drop $1 billion White House security request from immigration bill amid ballroom controversy.
Senate Republican leaders decided to remove a $1 billion Secret Service security funding request, which included money for President Trump's East Wing ballroom project, from a $70 billion immigration enforcement bill. GOP senators cited insufficient votes within their caucus, the parliamentarian's ruling against the provision, and concerns about the optics of taxpayer funding for the ballroom. The bill also faces complications over a $1.8 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund" that has drawn criticism from Republicans and Democrats.
Broad agreement on what happened
Outlets across the spectrum land in roughly the same place: the shared language is highlighted.
“'Billion dollar ballroom just trips right off the tongue,' conservative jokes”CNN CNN LEFT
“GOP weighs scrubbing White House security funding from immigration bill over ballroom controversy”WE Washington Examiner RIGHT
“Live updates: Senate awaits reconciliation bill, which holds ballroom funding's fate” · PBS NewsHour, Politico, Semafor, Reuters, The Hill