White House Ballroom Funding

The Trump administration quietly shifted more than $350 million into Secret Service and White House security accounts, prompting Democratic lawmakers and senators to question whether taxpayer money is being used to help pay for President Donald Trump’s planned White House ballroom. The Office of Management and Budget redirected the funds after Trump and his allies had said the project would be privately financed, while reports cited contractor estimates suggesting taxpayers could face costs of at least $300 million. Democrats tied the money to Trump’s tax cuts and spending bill, warning that the transfer amounted to an unauthorized funding stream for a luxury project as Republicans cut other federal programs. The White House has framed the money as security-related, but the timing and scale of the transfer drew scrutiny on Capitol Hill.