Power Grab/Decide who gets to vote and who counts it
OMB apportions $351.6 million of Secret Service money to “White House Security Measures,” and a source ties it to the East Wing ballroom
— The administration moves $352m of Secret Service money to the White House ballroom.
The June 12, 2026 apportionment came from a $1.17 billion appropriation whose use the 2025 reconciliation law limits to personnel, training facilities, technology and bonuses.
What happened
On June 12, 2026, the Office of Management and Budget apportioned $351.6 million to the Secret Service for “White House Security Measures,” according to the openomb.org database reported by Roll Call. Of that, $340.8 million went to a procurement, construction and improvements account and $10.75 million to operations and support.
The money came from a $1.17 billion Secret Service appropriation in the 2025 reconciliation law, which restricts it to personnel, training facilities, technology and bonuses. The same week the Washington Post reported a Clark Construction summary putting the East Wing ballroom at $600 million, half from taxpayers. A Post source linked the apportionment to the ballroom.
OMB told NOTUS the funds were used consistent with the law and that ballroom construction is privately funded. A White House spokesperson said the East Wing Modernization Project is “inextricably tied” to presidential security. Congress had rejected $1 billion for ballroom security.
Who benefited
Trump’s signature construction project may have received public funding beyond the private donations he had said would cover it. The donors and contractors on the project would face less exposure if the transfer is tied to the ballroom, as one source says.
Who wanted something
The White House and OMB control the apportionment of appropriated funds, and the White House describes the East Wing project as part of presidential security. Routing money through Secret Service accounts presents a presidential amenity as a security expense.
Who lost out
The money is your taxpayer money, and a Post source says it went to a project that was to be privately funded. The Secret Service’s budget lost the $351.6 million, and Congress’s appropriations decision was bypassed. Sen. Blumenthal wrote to Director Curran on June 22 demanding answers by July 3.
Why it matters
Congress rejected $1 billion for ballroom security, and OMB then apportioned $351.6 million for White House security measures from a different appropriation. If the money is going to the ballroom, it is spending Congress did not approve. OMB says ballroom construction is privately funded.
Sources Roll CallNOTUSOffice of Sen. Richard Blumenthal (primary)Washington PostThe GuardianSenate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (primary)The Independent (via inkl)