Senate parliamentarian rejects $1 billion in reconciliation bill for White House security, Trump ballroom

Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough, considered nonpartisan since taking the role in 2012 during former President Barack Obama's administration, ruled the funding provision could not be included as written under budget reconciliation rules, an outcome long expected from both sides of the aisle.

"Redraft. Refine. Resubmit," Wrasse wrote on X. "None of this is abnormal during a Byrd process."

MacDonough ruled that the security funding provision falls under chamber rules that require 60 votes to pass most legislation, according to the office of Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., the Senate Budget Committee ranking member.

"While we expect Republicans to change this bill to appease Trump, Democrats are prepared to challenge any change to this bill," Merkley said.

The parliamentarian interprets Senate rules, including whether legislative provisions are permitted. While MacDonough is nonpartisan by Senate standards, she served as former Vice President Al Gore's advisor in the Bush v. Gore 2000 election challenge that was resolved in the Supreme Court.

Curtis added that if an employee brought him a billion-dollar project with little explanation, he would respond: "You made that number up."

The request included $220 million for "White House complex hardening," including above- and below-ground security enhancements for the ballroom, according to a one-page breakdown obtained by Fox News Digital. Those upgrades included bulletproof glass, drone detection technology, chemical filtration and detection systems and other national security measures.

Republicans defending the request have argued Democrats and critics are mischaracterizing the funding as a direct ballroom subsidy.

"What was clear today is this whole statement, 'It's a billion dollars for a ballroom.' Anyone who prints that is printing something they know is a lie," Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., told Fox News Digital. "It's not a billion dollars for the ballroom."

Still, other Republicans said the administration had not fully explained how it arrived at the number. Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., said officials needed to provide "more details about exactly how they arrived at the figure," while Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., said the administration would have to explain to taxpayers what return they would get for the spending.

The White House and GOP supporters have framed the funding as a national security matter, citing threats against Trump and the need to modernize protective infrastructure at the White House. The administration has said the ballroom would reduce reliance on temporary outdoor structures for large events while improving security for the president, his family and visitors.

"The bottom line is, this ballroom is a disgrace," he said. "The Republicans know it. Let's see if they have the guts to do what they know is right, both substantively and politically, and tell Trump we don't need a God - we don't need a damn ballroom."

Fox News' Alex Miller and Reuters contributed to this report.