Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled on May 16, 2026 that $220 million in ballroom security funding for Trump properties does not comply with Senate rules allowing Republicans to skirt the 60-vote threshold. The ballroom funding is part of a $1 billion security funding request. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina had sought to include the funds in an immigration package to avoid needing Democratic votes.
Senate parliamentarian ruling
▪Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough had already determined that a few other provisions in the broader package would need to be altered before the latest ruling on ballroom funding.
▪Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough informed lawmakers on May 16, 2026 that the ballroom money does not comply with special Senate rules that allow skirting the 60-vote threshold.
▪Republicans led by Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina had sought to include the ballroom funds in a package of immigration money that would be able to skirt the Senate's 60-vote threshold.
▪The Senate parliamentarian ruling on ballroom funding forces Republican party leaders to go back to the drawing board to get the money through Congress without Democratic votes.
Ballroom funding details
▪The White House has said the ballroom money would put funds strictly toward security for the East Wing project and separate US Secret Service needs.
▪The ballroom funding comes as part of a $1 billion security funding request.
▪Only a fraction of the up to $1 billion would be used specifically on the ballroom, while the rest would be used by the Secret Service for other matters, according to two sources in the meetings.
▪The ballroom funding totals about $220 million according to a memo sent from the White House to members of Congress during the week of May 11, 2026.
Republican vote concerns
▪Top Republicans were already privately skeptical they would have the votes for President Donald Trump's ballroom push at such an economically turbulent time for many Americans, according to multiple GOP leadership sources.
▪One Republican lawmaker, granted anonymity to speak freely, characterized the funding for President Donald Trump's ballroom as somewhere between dead and on life support.
▪GOP Rep. Rich McCormick of Georgia said the administration miscalculated by not realizing the ballroom funding was needed sooner.
▪GOP Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas said there has been very vigorous debate among House Republicans about whether to support money for President Donald Trump's ballroom even though most agree with security funding.
White House lobbying campaign
▪The White House held some private meetings with lawmakers as part of the lobbying campaign for ballroom funding.
▪GOP Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas has discussed the ballroom with President Donald Trump.
▪The homeland security secretary provided a briefing to a large group of House Republicans as part of the White House lobbying campaign for ballroom funding.
▪Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche provided a briefing as part of the White House lobbying campaign for ballroom funding.
▪The Secret Service chief provided a full briefing to Senate Republicans as part of the White House lobbying campaign for ballroom funding.
Political optics debate
▪There is widespread consternation among Republicans about the optics of the money for the East Wing project even if it is just for security, despite a fierce White House lobbying campaign.
▪GOP Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas told CNN that if a Republican is in a politically challenging district, voting for the ballroom funding is not an easy vote to take.
▪GOP Rep. Rich McCormick of Georgia argued that approving the ballroom funding would not hurt Republicans politically in November even with the war in Iran, record deficit spending and the high cost of living.
Perspective of Republican lawmakers
▪Top Republicans were already privately skeptical they would have the votes for President Donald Trump's ballroom push at such an economically turbulent time for many Americans, according to multiple GOP leadership sources.
▪There is widespread consternation among Republicans about the optics of the money for the East Wing project even if it is just for security, despite a fierce White House lobbying campaign.
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