Republicans drop $1 billion funding proposal for Trump's ballroom
US President Donald Trump (photo: Getty Images)
US Senate Republicans have officially withdrawn a proposal to allocate $1 billion for security measures at Donald Trump's new ballroom. The decision was made to preserve broader funding for the administration's mass deportation program, The Guardian reports.
A billion dollars for luxury and security could have jeopardized $70 billion in border funding. Republicans decided not to take the risk and removed the ballroom spending from the bill.
The Senate Judiciary Committee released a revised version of the legislation titled the Secure America Act. Any references to funding for Trump's ballroom were removed.
The Senate approved the measure by a vote of 53 to 46. The money will go to agencies tasked with implementing Trump's mass deportation campaign over the next four years.
Political pressure and Democratic opposition
Minority Leader Chuck Schumer pledged to fight what he called the US president's wasteful spending by every means possible. Democrats planned to introduce a series of amendments that would have forced Republicans to publicly defend the controversial spending ahead of the elections.
With the November elections approaching, Republicans fear losing control of Congress. The defeat of the ballroom funding proposal became a tactical retreat for them. Schumer called it a victory for his party over what he described as absurd taxpayer-funded spending.
Budget rules and missed deadlines
Procedural issues also played a role. The Senate parliamentarian determined that the ballroom spending did not comply with budget reconciliation rules. This deprived Republicans of the ability to bypass a Democratic filibuster through a simple vote.
The situation was further complicated by other presidential initiatives. Trump announced the creation of a $1.8 billion fund aimed at preventing the spread of weapons. The move drew criticism even from some of his allies in Congress.
Donald Trump demanded that a final version of the legislation be on his desk by June 1, but Republicans missed that deadline. The entire process slowed due to internal disputes and opposition resistance.
Democrats' position: The bill is rotten
Chuck Schumer did not hide his satisfaction during the session. However, he added that even without the ballroom funding, the legislation remained terrible.
"Even without Trump's billion-dollar, taxpayer-funded ballroom – which Democrats successfully killed despite Republicans' best efforts – this bill is rotten through and through," the minority leader said.
What is known about Trump's plans
The US leader told reporters that both the ballroom and the White House would be protected by a "drone empire." Trump said he planned to place the entire "empire" directly on the roof of the building.
Donald Trump also said he would personally perform at a large-scale concert marking the 250th anniversary of the United States in place of musicians who declined to participate. The president called the stars third-rate and promised to draw a record audience.
In addition, Trump is currently promoting the idea of creating a new $250 banknote featuring his portrait. The proposed launch is intended to coincide with the 250th anniversary of US independence.
