{"id":2598935,"date":"2026-05-05T11:56:02","date_gmt":"2026-05-05T15:56:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/does-grassleys-spending-bill-give-trump-1-billion-for-the-white-house-ballroom\/"},"modified":"2026-05-05T12:00:54","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T16:00:54","slug":"does-grassleys-spending-bill-give-trump-1-billion-for-the-white-house-ballroom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/does-grassleys-spending-bill-give-trump-1-billion-for-the-white-house-ballroom\/","title":{"rendered":"Does Grassley&#8217;s spending bill give Trump $1 billion for the White House ballroom?"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdoes-grassleys-spending-bill-give-trump-1-billion-for-the-white-house-ballroom%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2598935&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Sen. Chuck Grassley\u2019s senate Judiciary reconciliation bill text would set aside $1 billion for U.S. Secret Service security upgrades tied to President Donald Trump\u2019s proposed White House \u201cEast Wing Modernization Project,\u201d including security work around the White House compound perimeter and \u201cabove-ground and below-ground\u201d features of the new ballroom. Grassley\u2019s communications team and the committee say the language is strictly limited to security enhancements and explicitly bars money from being used for non-security ballroom construction elements.<\/p>\n<p>democrats, led by ranking member Dick Durbin, criticized the provision as a partisan use of spending, arguing it contributes little to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-try-to-flee-weird-label-that-got-turned-back-on-them-with-next-dnc-leader-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"... try to flee \u2018weird\u2019 label that got turned back on them with next DNC leader - Washington Examiner\">everyday economic concerns<\/a>. The debate has intensified after the White House Correspondents\u2019 Association dinner, when a gunman was stopped before a suspected third assassination attempt on Trump. Trump has publicly argued that a large and secure ballroom should be built on White House grounds.<\/p>\n<p>The bill also includes a funding timeline (available until Sept. 30, 2029) and-separately from the reconciliation text-Congress has seen multiple other proposals related to the ballroom, including one by Sen. Rand Paul to speed construction while relying on private funding.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p>Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/chuck-grassley\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"963\">Chuck Grassley<\/a> (R-IA) released the Senate Judiciary Committee\u2019s reconciliation bill text that includes a funding provision for security-related features in President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a>\u2018s proposed White House ballroom.<\/p>\n<p>The bill text has caught media attention since its release because it would allocate $1 billion toward security enhancements to Trump\u2019s ballroom project, a project the president has insisted would be funded by private donors. However, despite concerns from Democrats, the chairman\u2019s proposed language does not directly fund the cosmetic construction of the ballroom, also called the East Wing Modernization project. As written, it only funds <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/secret-service\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1478\">Secret Service<\/a>-related elements of the facility.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4554345\/pennsylvania-democrats-john-fetterman-traitor\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Pennsylvania Democrats rebuke \u2018traitor\u2019 Fetterman as party threatens primary challenge<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4550210\/senators-ban-themselves-gambling-prediction-markets\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Senators ban themselves from gambling on prediction markets<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4549690\/senate-jam-house-fisa-extension-excluding-digital-currency-ban\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Senate jams House with FISA extension that excludes digital currency ban<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>\u201cThe bill provides funding for Secret Service security enhancements \u2014 and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-are-trying-to-close-guantanamo-bay-again\/\" title=\"... Are Trying to Close Guantanamo Bay Again\">explicitly prohibits funds<\/a> from going to non-security \u2018ballroom\u2019 elements,\u201d Clare Slattery, Grassley\u2019s communications director, said in a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/clare_slatts\/status\/2051511647412318283?s=20\">statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<div data-wp-interactive=\"core\/file\" class=\"wp-block-file\"><object data-wp-bind--hidden=\"!state.hasPdfPreview\" hidden class=\"wp-block-file__embed\" data=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/reconciliation_-_senate_judiciary_committee_title.pdf\" type=\"application\/pdf\" style=\"width:100%;height:600px\" aria-label=\"Embed of reconciliation_-_senate_judiciary_committee_title.\"><\/object><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-b4dc6ca4-f46f-4cf4-891b-7258d0327e06\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/reconciliation_-_senate_judiciary_committee_title.pdf\">reconciliation_-_senate_judiciary_committee_title<\/a><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/reconciliation_-_senate_judiciary_committee_title.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-b4dc6ca4-f46f-4cf4-891b-7258d0327e06\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n<p>The Judiciary Republican\u2019s proposed reconciliation bill text outlines funding for <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/customs-and-border-protection\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1764\">Customs and Border Protection<\/a>, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ICE\/\">Immigration and Customs Enforcement<\/a>, general <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-homeland-security\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"3083\">Department of Homeland Security<\/a> initiatives, the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"438\">Department of Justice<\/a>, and the Secret Service.<\/p>\n<p>Under the Secret Service section, the proposed title allocates $1 billion for \u201csecurity adjustments and upgrades, including within the perimeter fence of the White House Compound to support enhancements by the United States Secret Service relating to the East Wing Modernization Project.\u201d The funding, which would be available until Sept. 30, 2029, says the enhancements include \u201cabove-ground and below-ground security features\u201d of the ballroom.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis bill does not fund ballroom construction,\u201d a spokesperson for the Senate Judiciary Committee told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. \u201cIt provides funds for Secret Service enhancements, including, but not limited to security enhancements related to the East Wing Modernization Project. This necessary funding will ensure all presidents, their families and their staffs are adequately protected.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>As part of the ballroom project, Trump has said there will be an underground bunker built into the complex, presumably the \u201cbelow-ground\u201d security elements Grassley\u2019s proposal refers to.<\/p>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.grassley.senate.gov\/imo\/media\/doc\/reconciliation_-_senate_judiciary_committee_title.pdf\">text<\/a> also includes a specific limitation to the funding, which reads, \u201cNone of the funds made available under this section may be used for non-security elements of the East Wing Modernization Project.\u201d The limitation, as written, means that the funding can only go toward Secret Service security features of the project and not \u201cnon-security elements.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But Democrats have raised concerns over the funding allocation, with ranking member <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/dick-durbin\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1010\">Dick Durbin<\/a> (D-IL) calling it a \u201cmisguided partisan effort\u201d that \u201cwill do nothing to help Americans deal with rising prices for gas, food, housing, and health care\u201d in a statement.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhile Americans are struggling to make ends meet as a result of President Trump\u2019s failed policies, Republicans are focused on providing tens of billions of dollars for the President\u2019s vanity ballroom project and cruel mass deportation campaign,\u201d Durbin said. <\/p>\n<p>The conversation around the ballroom\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >proposed security details reignited<\/a> after the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/white-house-correspondents-dinner\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"2432\">White House Correspondents\u2019 Association dinner<\/a>, when a gunman was stopped by law enforcement before carrying out a suspected third assassination attempt on Trump.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat happened last night is exactly the reason that our great Military, Secret Service, Law Enforcement and, for different reasons, every President for the last 150 years, have been DEMANDING that a large, safe, and secure Ballroom be built ON THE GROUNDS OF THE WHITE HOUSE,\u201d Trump wrote\u00a0in a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4543583\/trump-dinner-shooting-white-house-ballroom\/\">Truth Social post<\/a> after the dinner.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4546389\/trump-sides-with-rand-paul-white-house-ballroom-bill\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"4546389\">TRUMP SPURNS ALLIES AND SIDES WITH RAND PAUL ON WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM BILL<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>At least half a dozen bills have been <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4544960\/congress-trump-white-house-ballroom-shooting\/\">introduced in Congress<\/a> related to the ballroom since the WHCA dinner in late April. Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/rand-paul\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"230\">Rand Paul <\/a>(R-KY) introduced a bill that would <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/drews-receipts-so-much-for-walls-dont-work\/\" title=\"Drew&#039;s Receipts: Walls Do Work!\">fast-track construction<\/a> of the ballroom while <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4546389\/trump-sides-with-rand-paul-white-house-ballroom-bill\/\">maintaining private funding sources<\/a>. Trump, who has often sparred with Paul, reposted the Kentucky senator\u2019s statement on his bill. The provision in Judiciary Chairman Grassley\u2019s proposed title includes the latest ballroom-related provision in the Senate.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe United States Secret Service is responsible for securing the White House compound, as well as deciding how the compound must be secured given the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/how-the-media-pushed-the-now-debunked-find-the-fraud-story-in-their-bid-to-attack-trump\/\" title=\"How The Media Pushed The Now Debunked \u2018Find The Fraud\u2019 Story In Their Bid To Attack ...\">current threat environment<\/a>,\u201d the Senate Judiciary Committee spokesperson told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. \u201cAfter three attempted assassinations against the current president, it\u2019s clearer than ever that investing in Secret Service is essential.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Grassley\u2019s bill includes $1B for Secret Service security tied to Trump\u2019s ballroom<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3976,"featured_media":2598936,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/AP26094742581501.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[4463,33926,5894,3740,3634],"class_list":["post-2598935","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-budget","tag-campaign-finance","tag-politics","tag-senate","tag-trump"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/AP26094742581501.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2598935","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3976"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2598935"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2598935\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2598939,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2598935\/revisions\/2598939"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2598936"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2598935"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2598935"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2598935"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}