Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), along with Senators Katie Britt (R-AL) and Eric Schmitt (R-MO), announced on Monday plans to introduce legislation aimed at securing $400 million in federal funding for a new White House ballroom. This initiative follows a shooting incident over the weekend that disrupted the White House Correspondents’ Dinner at the Washington Hilton Hotel, underscoring the perceived need for enhanced security.
At a press conference, Graham articulated his view that the ballroom, initially seen as a vanity project, is now essential for national security. “I’m convinced if there had been a presidential ballroom adjacent to the White House, the guy would have never gotten in,” he stated, referring to the alleged gunman who attempted to breach the event.
The incident at the Correspondents’ Dinner unfolded when an armed individual attempted to enter the venue but was thwarted by Secret Service agents. In light of this breach, former President Donald Trump has advocated for the establishment of the ballroom as a safer venue for future gatherings. Trump has suggested that private donations would fund the project but Republicans in Congress are now pursuing federal funding.
In addition to the trio of Senators, Rand Paul (R-KY) revealed his plans to introduce legislation aimed at advancing the ballroom project without incurring additional taxpayer costs. However, securing $400 million in taxpayer funds for a project that Trump proposed to finance through private contributions may present significant political challenges, even within the Republican-majority Congress.
Several House Republicans, including Representatives Randy Fine (R-FL) and Lauren Boebert (R-CO), have expressed their support for similar legislative measures. Notably, Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) also made headlines by urging his colleagues to back the funding for the ballroom project, indicating potential bipartisan interest.
Graham explained that customs fees would help offset the ballroom’s construction costs. He has requested Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) to accelerate the process, signaling his intent to potentially bundle the funding within a broader tax and spending bill currently being debated in Congress. This broader legislation also addresses budget allocations for agencies within the Department of Homeland Security, which has faced operational shutdowns.
Senator Britt, who chairs the Senate Appropriations subpanel on Homeland Security, criticized the recent legal challenges to the ballroom project as “ridiculous.” She expressed support for Trump’s initiative, urging for its advancement and citing a need for renewed focus on bolstering funding for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the Secret Service.
Currently, the funding for DHS is in a precarious position, with the administration warning that financial support could be exhausted by the end of the month. The Senate had previously passed a DHS funding bill in late March, yet this was rejected by House Republicans in favor of a more expansive funding alternative that has not gained approval from Democrats due to ongoing disagreements over federal immigration enforcement policies.
As debates over the ballroom and related funding continue to take shape, the push for a more secure venue reflects broader concerns about safety at high-profile events and the intersection of security and politics in congressional legislation.
Original Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/27/congressional-republicans-trump-white-house-ballroom.html
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Publish Date: 2026-04-28 06:08:00
