A Senate proposal to stop construction of President Donald Trump’s planned White House ballroom unless Congress approved the project failed 52-47 after six Republicans voted with Democrats.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Six Republican senators joined Democrats on Thursday in support of a proposal that would have blocked construction of President Donald Trump’s planned 90,000-square-foot White House ballroom unless Congress authorized the project.
The amendment, introduced by Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., came during a vote-a-rama on the Republican reconciliation bill to fund immigration enforcement. The proposal needed 60 votes to overcome a procedural objection but failed 52-47, according to The Hill.
The six Republicans who voted with Democrats were Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Jon Husted of Ohio, Jerry Moran of Kansas, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Dan Sullivan of Alaska and Thom Tillis of North Carolina.
Merkley’s amendment would have given Congress sole authority over construction of a new White House ballroom and would have barred the use of federal funds or private donations for the project without congressional approval.
The vote followed legal and political scrutiny of Trump’s plan to build the privately funded ballroom on the White House complex. A federal judge earlier this year limited construction connected to the project.
The Trump administration announced the White House ballroom project last summer, describing it as a long-sought expansion of event space for future administrations.
“For 150 years, Presidents, Administrations, and White House Staff have longed for a large event space on the White House complex that can hold substantially more guests than currently allowed,” the White House said. “President Donald J. Trump has expressed his commitment to solving this problem on behalf of future Administrations and the American people.”
The administration said the current White House layout requires major events to be held with temporary tent structures outside the building, limiting the venue’s capacity and presentation.
“The White House is one of the most beautiful and historic buildings in the world, yet the White House is currently unable to host major functions honoring world leaders and other countries without having to install a large and unsightly tent approximately 100 yards away from the main building entrance,” the White House said.
The planned ballroom would add about 90,000 square feet of event space and seat 650 guests. The White House said that would be a major increase from the East Room, which has a seated capacity of about 200 people.
“The White House State Ballroom will be a much-needed and exquisite addition of approximately 90,000 total square feet of ornately designed and carefully crafted space, with a seated capacity of 650 people — a significant increase from the 200-person seated capacity in the East Room of the White House,” the administration said.
Although the amendment failed, the vote showed bipartisan concern among some senators over whether the ballroom project should proceed without explicit congressional approval. The proposal’s defeat leaves the administration’s plan intact while legal and congressional scrutiny of the project continues.
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