Chuck Schumer vows to keep fighting after Democrats block funding for Trump's ballroom

Democrats landed the first blow against Republican efforts to fund Donald Trump's billion-dollar ballroom using taxpayer money. They won their challenge before the Senate parliamentarian, who stipulated that several key provisions in the budget reconciliation legislation would need to be drafted again.

The current language in the reconciliation bill, which also provides for a billion dollars for Trump's gilded ballroom, would be subject to a 60-vote Byrd Rule point of order, according to the parliamentarian. This is because a project as large and complex as the massive East Wing renovation is too broad to be included in the budget bill, which only needs a simple majority and no Democratic votes to pass in the Senate.

In other words, Republicans will either have to strip the provision as drafted from the bill, or Democrats will raise a Byrd Rule point of order on the floor, and the provision will fail to get the necessary 60 votes to remain in the bill.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), in his statement, explained that "ballroom Republicans" will have to go back to the drawing board in light of the decision and vowed to keep fighting the measure in "every way—in the Byrd Bath, on the Senate floor with votes, and anywhere else." 

Schumer contrasted the struggle of families getting crushed by groceries, gas, housing, and health care, with the Republicans' focus on "Trump's vanity project." "Americans don't want a ballroom. They don't need a ballroom. And they sure as hell should not be forced to pay for one," he concluded.

This is a significant development at a time when both sides are locked in a populist messaging battle with one eye on the upcoming midterm elections. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's effort to paint the GOP as elite and out of touch may gain traction among voters reeling from the soaring prices.

The Democratic leader reaffirmed that the party will challenge any future language permitting the use of taxpayer dollars to fund the White House ballroom. "Senate Republicans' reconciliation bill tells you exactly who they’re fighting for: Trump's raids, Trump's violent ICE agents, and Trump's gilded ballroom—not working families," he said.

What happens next

There is no clarity on whether Republicans will retain any part of the original proposal, which would have funded security for Trump's ballroom along with other parts of the White House, including a new visitor screening centre and extra reinforcements for large events.

The package includes $72 billion to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection for three years. The provision for a billion dollars for the White House security enhancements was also included in this package.