WASHINGTON — Congressional Republicans ramped up their push to fund President Donald Trump’s planned White House ballroom Monday after a press gala shooting over the weekend revealed security concerns.
U.S. Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., who oversees a DHS funding panel, is leading legislation with Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., the Budget Committee chair, and Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., to authorize $400 million for the construction of the ballroom.
“We have to be more vigilant, and we have to be more prepared,” Britt said during a press conference announcing the bill. “Being more prepared means having a facility like this ballroom, where we can have a secure location for the president of the United States, amongst other Cabinet officials, to gather and to be together.”
On Saturday, a gunman attempted to run past security and enter the ballroom hosting the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton. The suspect, Cole Tomas Allen, was taken down, resulting in shots being fired outside the room where Trump and cabinet officials were hustled away unharmed.
In an impromptu press conference after the event was halted, Trump quickly called for the completion of his ballroom project.
“I didn’t want to say this, but this is why we have to have all of the attributes of what we’re planning at the White House,” Trump said Saturday night. “It’s much more secure.”
Republicans quickly seized on that call over the weekend, chiming in their support for the project on social media. On Monday, the trio of Republican senators unveiled their legislation to fund the ballroom, which would be offset by customs fees, Graham said. Underneath the room would be space for national security operations and a Secret Service annex.
“The ballroom itself will avoid the dilemma of having to leave the White House grounds with future presidents and this president to go downtown in a place that’s less secure,” Graham told reporters.
Trump had previously said that private donations would be used to pay for the ballroom, while public funds would be used to pay for the bunker and security upgrades. After Trump tore down the East Wing to make room for the ballroom, the project has been subject to legal challenges. A preservation group is expected to continue its lawsuit against the project in the wake of the shooting incident.
DHS funding
Britt also used the shooting at the dinner to highlight the need to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security, which has been shut down since Feb. 14. The Secret Service is part of DHS.
“The very least we can do is actually fund the mission that is before us,” Britt said. “We saw the importance of that this weekend. I mean, people need to get it together. We need to make this happen.”
Democrats have refused to fund immigration enforcement and Border Patrol without significant reforms, but the Senate unanimously passed funding for the rest of the department earlier this month.
The House has yet to vote on that measure and Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said he is now considering putting a “modified” DHS bill on the floor that the Senate would have to approve again. This week, the House is also set to vote on a budget blueprint to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol, bypassing Democrats.
Graham said he has asked Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., to “expedite” the ballroom funding bill. But he left open the option of pursuing the authorization as part of the reconciliation process, if not enough Democrats get on board. So far, only Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania has signaled his support.
“If Republicans truly want to improve security, they should join Democrats in funding the Secret Service, not Donald Trump’s luxury ballroom,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said on the floor Monday.