Public funding linked to the future White House ballroom desired by the president Donald Trump is being called into question following a procedural decision by the US Senate, according to Democratic lawmakers.
Senate parliamentary adviser Elizabeth MacDonough removed a provision from the spending bill that would have funded security measures related to the project, championed by the White House.
This decision represents a setback for Republicans, who defended the funding by citing security imperatives for the new infrastructure. It also complicates efforts to advance public funding for the project in a chamber where Republicans hold a slim majority.
The ballroom project, which involves transforming part of the White House complex, is already at the center of a political controversy. Democrats denounce the expense as excessive and symbolic, while supporters of the project argue that it would modernize facilities needed for official events.
Donald Trump, for his part, claimed that the construction would be primarily funded by private donations, mentioning an amount of around $400 million, but some Republican elected officials are pushing for federal support of up to $1 billion for security and associated infrastructure.
The Senate's decision could force a revision of the budget text or a new round of negotiations between the two sides before any final adoption.
Community
Comments
Comments are open, but protected against spam. Initial posts and comments containing links undergo manual review.
Be the first to comment on this article.