On June 4, 2026, seven Republican senators supported a Democratic amendment to prohibit the construction of President Donald Trump’s East Wing ballroom without congressional approval. The senators who supported the amendment were Susan Collins (R-ME), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Jon Husted (R-OH), and Bill Cassidy (R-LA). The amendment was part of a $70 billion immigration enforcement bill but ultimately failed to pass, receiving a vote tally of 53-46.
The amendment aimed to ban the use of federal funds and private donations for the ballroom's construction unless approved by Congress. The Republicans had initially sought $220 million for ballroom security funding but had to remove this from the bill due to opposition and the reconciliation process rules. Collins, Husted, and Sullivan had previously broken with their party on another amendment related to the Justice Department’s “anti-weaponization” fund. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's office commented on the situation, stating that Congress should act as a check on Trump's actions.
