Senate parliamentarian deals setback to ballroom security funding
The Senate parliamentarian has struck millions in White House security funding out of Republicans’ immigration enforcement bill, sowing further doubt about whether the money will be approved by Congress later this month.
TL;DR
- Senate parliamentarian removed millions in White House security funding from a Republican immigration bill.
- The funding includes approximately $220 million for President Trump's planned East Wing ballroom.
- Democrats oppose the ballroom funding, calling it a "vanity project."
- Some Republicans are undecided due to the cost and the late addition of the provision.
- Republicans plan to revise the language to comply with budget reconciliation rules and bypass a filibuster.
- The bill also allocates $70 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
- Secret Service Director Sean Curran and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin briefed members of Congress to garner support for the funding.