Senators Suspect Trump Shifted Secret Service Funds to Build His Ballroom

“It’s a big problem,” says Sen. Thom Tillis of the $352 million moved from personnel and training.

White House ballroom construction

The White House quietly moved $352 million from a Secret Service fund to pay for “White House Security Measures.” Some senators think the money is really for the new ballroom. Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP

Congress turned down President Donald Trump’s request for funding for his modernization efforts at the White House – mainly out of concern that he would tap taxpayer dollars for his proposed ballroom.

Now, the president is turning to a pot of money Congress approved last year for the U.S. Secret Service.

Records show that the White House Office of Management and Budget last week quietly apportioned $352 million from Trump’s tax cuts law, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, for “White House Security Measures.”