Senate Republicans Don’t Have the Votes to Fund Trump’s Ballroom

The president is blaming the non-partisan parliamentarian for blocking the money, but Republican leaders admit they simply don’t have the votes.

Trump White House Ballroom

Senate Republicans admitted they didn’t have the votes to include money for security for a new White House ballroom, which is under construction now. Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

President Donald Trump may not be getting taxpayer money for his ballroom after all.

Senate Republicans on Wednesday indicated they expect the funds intended to secure the planned East Wing project to be stripped out of the single-party package because they lack the votes to include the money in the bill.

Adding to the troubles, Elizabeth MacDonough, the Senate parliamentarian, ruled that language fails to pass muster with the strict budget rules for what can be included in the $72 billion proposal for border security priorities.