Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) is pushing back on a Republican proposal to spend up to $400 million in federal funds on President Donald Trump’s planned White House ballroom, citing the nation’s mounting debt and deficit spending.
“I don’t know why you would do it” with taxpayer money, Scott told NBC News, “if it’s all funded … We have $39 trillion in debt. Maybe we ought to stop spending money.”
Scott’s comments came after Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) announced legislation Monday that would help finance the ballroom project with federal dollars. Graham argued the facility would serve security and operational purposes beyond hosting events.
“Underneath it will be a lot of military stuff. There will be a Secret Service annex, and we pay for it by offsetting it with customs fees,” Graham said at a press conference. He added that private donations could still be used for furnishings and decor.
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Graham said Trump personally urged him to move the project forward, calling it necessary “for future presidents.”
The congressional push follows Saturday’s attempted assassination of Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.
“What happened last night is exactly the reason that our great Military, Secret Service, Law Enforcement and, for different reasons, every President for the last 150 years, have been DEMANDING that a large, safe, and secure Ballroom be built ON THE GROUNDS OF THE WHITE HOUSE,” Trump wrote in a Sunday Truth Social post.
Several Senate Republicans have expressed skepticism over using public funds. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) said he would prefer private financing, while noting Congress may need to authorize major changes to White House grounds. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) has also expressed concerns.
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“I’m not against putting in reconciliation and doing a nominal amount,” Paul told NBC News. “I’m not for funding the whole $500 million. I think he’s already raised the money through private means.”
When Trump announced the ballroom proposal over the summer, he said it would be financed solely through private donations. The space is slated to be around 90,000 square feet and is expected to accommodate roughly 1,000 people. In recent months, the ballroom has drawn criticism from historians, architects, and members of the public, as well as mounting legal challenges.