WASHINGTON — For months, President Donald Trump portrayed the big new ballroom that he’s building on White House grounds as a gift to the nation, courtesy of patriotic private donors.
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“And by the way, no government funds,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office last November.
“These are all private individuals that put up a lot of money to build the ballroom,” he added. "Not one penny is being used from the federal government."
But the gleaming 90,000 square-foot space that he repeatedly said would cost the public nothing may ultimately leave taxpayers on the hook for $1 billion, due to new security enhancements that are tied to the project.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, has released a long-term immigration and border patrol funding bill that includes $1 billion earmarked for security improvements accompanying the overall ballroom project.
The legislation statesthat the money is earmarked “for the purposes of security adjustments and upgrades, including within the perimeter fence of the White House Compound to support enhancements by the United States Secret Service relating to the East Wing Modernization Project, including above-ground and below-ground security features.”
The language is part of a Republican-only "reconciliation" bill theparty plans to pass this year. The overall package is a major priority for GOP leadership, as well as the president. Still, some Republicansexpressed skepticismabout taxpayers contributing to the ballroom just last week.
In a prepared statement, a White House spokesperson praised the Republican-led spending proposal.
“Congress has rightly recognized the need for these funds,"said spokesperson Davis Ingle. "Due in part to the recent assassination attempt on President Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, the proposal would provide the United States Secret Service with the resources they need to fully and completely harden the White House complex, in addition to the many other critical missions for the USSS."
Source: Drudge Report
