Funding for Donald Trump's White House ballroom in jeopardy after Senate ruling

Funding that could be used for Donald Trump's ‌White House ballroom is in jeopardy after intervention from a Senate official.

Elizabeth MacDonough, a non-partisan advisor for the chamber, has dealt a blow to the US president and his administration, which is seeking money for extra security linked to the contentious ballroom.

Mr Trump has said its construction would be funded by $400m (£300m) in private donations.

But Senate Republicans ​are seeking $1bn (£750m) in taxpayer funding for security upgrades to the ballroom and other structures beneath it.

Democrats have criticised the project as expensive, frivolous and diverting federal resources that could be instead focused on helping Americans with rising costs.

"Republicans tried to make taxpayers foot the bill for Trump's billion-dollar ballroom," Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer said.

The advisory ruling from Ms MacDonough said that funding for a project as large and complex as the US president's East Wing renovation is too broad to be included in a budget bill, which is mainly focused on immigration enforcement.

Republicans have said they are revising the legislation following the advice, ⁠but it is unclear if they can salvage any part of the plans, which would fund a new visitor screening centre, additional training for Security Service agents and extra reinforcements for large events.

Republicans argue the extra ballroom security is needed to ensure presidential safety, and referred to an incident in April when an alleged gunman stormed a media gala in Washington DC that Mr Trump attended.

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The administration has said the ballroom ​will modernise infrastructure, bolster security and ease strain on the White House, which often relies on temporary outdoor ​structures to host large events.

Last year, Donald Trump ordered the demolition of the White House's East Wing - constructed in 1902 - to make way for his ballroom.

The remodel is set to be completed around September 2028, near the end of his ​second term in office.

The National Trust for Historic ​Preservation lost a legal challenge against the project, arguing it needed approval from Congress, but the US appeals court allowed construction to go ahead.

(c) Sky News 2026: Funding for Donald Trump's White House ballroom in jeopardy after Senate ruling