Senate Parliamentarian Kills $1 Billion Ballroom Security Funding Push

A Republican bid to route Secret Service cash toward the White House ballroom project has been ruled out of order, stripping the controversial line item from the budget package.

Senate Republicans proposed $1 billion in new funding for the Secret Service.
A portion of the funds was earmarked for the White House ballroom project.
The Senate parliamentarian ruled the measure out of order, blocking its inclusion.
The ruling removes the ballroom earmark from the current legislative vehicle.
Republicans will need a procedural workaround or separate legislation to revive the funding.

The Senate parliamentarian has struck down a Republican proposal to funnel $1 billion to the Secret Service, including funds tied to the White House ballroom project, dealing a procedural blow to the measure before it could advance.

The ruling, issued this week, found the provision ran afoul of Senate budget rules, according to reporting reviewed by the News. The decision effectively strips the ballroom earmark from the broader legislative package currently moving through the chamber.

Republicans had bundled the Secret Service funding into the bill as part of a larger spending push. The ballroom component drew scrutiny from critics who questioned whether security appropriations were the appropriate vehicle for a White House renovation project.

The parliamentarian’s office issues binding procedural guidance under the Byrd Rule, which bars budget reconciliation bills from carrying provisions deemed extraneous to fiscal matters.

Republican leaders have not confirmed whether they will attempt to restore the funding through a separate bill or seek an alternative procedural path. Senate floor activity on the broader package is expected to continue in the coming days.