Senate Skepticism Grows Over $1B White House Security Request
Secret Service briefed senators on a $1 billion security request that includes $220 million for East Wing hardening; GOP senators said they need more detail, and Democrats plan challenges.
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Overview
Republican senators left a closed-door lunch with Secret Service Director Sean Curran saying they need more detail on a $1 billion security plan for the White House, senators said.
A handout shows $220 million would harden the East Wing ballroom with bulletproof glass, drone detection and threat filtration, and the plan also lists about $180 million for a visitors screening facility and $175 million for training, according to the handout.
Several Republican senators, including Rick Scott and Susan Collins, said the breakdown was too vague and asked for more data, while Sen. Rand Paul said the project should be privately funded, according to senators and statements.
The funding was attached to a partisan bill to restore immigration enforcement funding, and Democrats said they will seek to have the money struck from the bill via the Senate parliamentarian or floor amendments, Democratic leaders said.
Thune said about 20% of the $1 billion would fund East Wing modernization and most would go to other Secret Service needs, and the White House and Secret Service plan to continue lobbying senators.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources report this story neutrally, presenting both Republican skepticism and Democratic opposition while relaying Secret Service details. they attribute evaluative language to quoted officials (e.g., Schumer's "gold-plated ballroom") and avoid charged descriptors in narration, balancing factual dollar breakdowns with multiple named perspectives and procedural context.