Senate GOP revising White House ballroom security funds plan

Politics Senate GOP revising White House ballroom security funding plan after parliamentarian ruling By Kaia Hubbard Kaia Hubbard Politics Reporter Kaia Hubbard is a politics reporter for CBS News Digital, based in Washington, D.C. Read Full Bio Kaia Hubbard May 17, 2026 / 1:14 PM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google Washington — Senate Republicans are revising part of their plan to fund immigration agencies under the Department of Homeland Security after the Senate's rulekeeper delivered a blow to security funds for President Trump's overhaul of the East Wing of the White House, which includes his plans for a massive ballroom.After Democrats refused for months to fund DHS' immigration enforcement agencies, Senate Republicans have been moving ahead with a plan to fund them through the budget reconciliation process, which allows the GOP majority to move forward without help from across the aisle. Earlier this month, Republicans on the Senate Judiciary and Homeland Security committees unveiled the text of a $72 billion package to fund the immigration enforcement through fiscal year 2029 as they aim to get the package to the president's desk by June 1. In addition to funds for immigration enforcement, the package would also provide $1 billion to the Secret Service for "security adjustments and upgrades," including to support enhancements related to the 90,000-square-foot "East Wing Modernization Project." Mr. Trump announced the makeover of the White House's East Wing last July, which includes revamped underground national security and health care facilities, in addition to the ballroom. Republicans say security for the ballroom represents around 20% of the proposed Secret Service funds. But the Senate's rulekeeper, known as the parliamentarian, determined that the provision funds activities beyond the jurisdiction of the Judiciary Committee and does not comply with the Byrd rule, Democrats on the Senate Budget Committee said late Saturday."While we ex...