Senate Republicans are pushing for passage of legislation that would back the Trump administration’s planned White House ballroom in the wake of a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday.
Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Katie Britt of Alabama and Eric Schmitt of Missouri announced plans to fund the ballroom project with tax dollars. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, meanwhile, said he plans to ask for unanimous consent Tuesday to pass a bill to authorize the ballroom’s construction without funding it. Both bills are expected to be released Tuesday.
President Donald Trump in July 2025 unveiled a plan to construct the ballroom, which he said would be funded through private donations. And Republicans say the high-profile shooting at the Washington Hilton — which required the evacuation of the president and many in the line of succession —further underscored the need for a secure ballroom on White House grounds.
