MAY 5, 2026
Senate Republicans include $1 billion for White House East Wing security in $70 billion immigration enforcement package
Two GOP-led Senate committees released a reconciliation package late Monday totaling approximately $70 billion in immigration enforcement funding, covering ICE and Customs and Border Protection operations through September 2029. Tucked into the Senate Judiciary Committee's portion is $1 billion directed to the Secret Service for security features related to the White House East Wing Modernization Project, commonly called the Trump ballroom. The legislation explicitly prohibits any of that funding from being used for "non-security elements" of the project.
The Senate Judiciary and Homeland Security committees released their reconciliation package late Monday, allocating roughly $38 billion for ICE and approximately $26 billion for CBP functions and upgrades, according to legislative text reviewed by multiple outlets. The package is designed to pass with only Republican votes, bypassing a Senate filibuster through the reconciliation process.
The $1 billion Secret Service allocation, contained within the Judiciary Committee's portion, is designated for "security adjustments and upgrades … including above-ground and below-ground security features" of the East Wing Modernization Project. "This bill does not fund ballroom construction," a Senate Judiciary Committee spokesperson told the Washington Examiner. "It provides funds for Secret Service enhancements, including, but not limited to, security enhancements related to the East Wing Modernization Project." White House spokesman Davis Ingle said in a statement that the proposal would provide the Secret Service with "resources they need to fully and completely harden the White House complex."
The funding provision emerged in the weeks following an incident at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner in late April, when a gunman was stopped by law enforcement before what authorities described as a suspected third assassination attempt against Trump. The Trump administration had previously stated the East Wing renovation would be funded entirely by private donors. Sen. Lindsey Graham separately introduced a bill seeking $400 million for the ballroom, including an underground national security annex, and Sen. Rand Paul introduced a bill that would fast-track construction while maintaining private funding sources. At least half a dozen ballroom-related bills have been introduced in Congress since the dinner.