Republicans Push $400M White House Ballroom After Gala Attack

(MENAFN- USA Art News) Republicans Push $400 Million White House Ballroom Plan as Security Debate Intensifies

Republicans in Congress are moving to turn Donald Trump's planned White House ballroom into a public funding fight, arguing that the project should be treated as a security upgrade as much as an event space. The renewed push comes after the weekend attack at a Washington press gala, which GOP lawmakers are citing as evidence that major gatherings outside a controlled setting are too exposed.

Senator Lindsey Graham said Monday that he wants lawmakers to approve roughly $400 million for the project, including secure facilities beneath the ballroom. His argument is that large, high-profile events should be kept on White House grounds rather than moved off-site, where security is more complicated and less centralized.

Other Republicans quickly joined in. Representative Lauren Boebert, Senator Rand Paul, and Senator Tim Sheehy all signaled support for moving legislation forward, with Sheehy pressing for a fast Senate vote and calling it“an embarrassment” that such events cannot be held safely in the capital.

The ballroom has already become one of the most contentious Trump-era alterations to the White House. Trump began advancing the project without congressional approval, including plans that would have demolished the historic East Wing. A federal judge halted the work, citing the lack of authorization, though an appeals court has allowed construction to continue while the ruling is reviewed.

The financing has also drawn scrutiny. A court order last week forced the release of a contract that concealed the identities of donors to the ballroom project. That same contract, according to the reporting,“does not require conflict-of-interest review for the White House or the broader executive branch.” Trump has said the ballroom would rely on private donations, raising questions about donor influence. Graham, by contrast, suggested a public funding model offset by federal fees, while leaving private money for extras.

Democrats responded by arguing that Republicans are focusing on a luxury project while the Department of Homeland Security remains partially shut down and the Secret Service needs resources. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said that if Republicans want to improve security, they should fund the Secret Service instead of Trump's ballroom. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries dismissed the proposal as a“vanity” effort and said lawmakers should be addressing cost-of-living pressures.

For Republicans, the project is being framed as a long-term presidential asset rather than a personal indulgence. Graham put it bluntly:“This is not about Trump. It's about the presidency of the United States.” One unresolved question is whether the ballroom would actually host the events now being used to justify it. The White House Correspondents' Dinner, for example, is organized by journalists and is traditionally held at the Washington Hilton.

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