Six Republican senators voted alongside Democrats Thursday in support of an amendment that would have blocked construction of President Donald Trump’s proposed White House ballroom unless Congress explicitly approved the project.
The amendment, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), would have prohibited the use of federal funds or private donations to build the planned 90,000-square-foot ballroom without congressional authorization. It also reaffirmed Congress’s authority over major construction projects at the White House.
The measure ultimately failed, 52-47, after falling short of the 60 votes needed to overcome a procedural objection during the Senate’s vote-a-rama on the Republican reconciliation package.
The six Republicans who voted with Democrats were:
- Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine)
- Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio)
- Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.)
- Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska)
- Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska)
- Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.)
The vote highlights continued unease among some Senate Republicans over Trump’s proposal and the use of taxpayer resources for the project.
Notably, several of the Republicans who sided with Democrats face difficult political environments heading into the midterm elections.
In Ohio, a recent Fox News poll cited by The Hill’s reporting found Sen. Jon Husted trailing former Sen. Sherrod Brown in a potential Senate matchup. In Maine, a UMass Lowell/YouGov survey showed Sen. Susan Collins behind Democratic challenger Graham Platner. And in Alaska, polling conducted by Alaska Survey Research found Sen. Dan Sullivan trailing former Rep. Mary Peltola.
The White House ballroom proposal had already generated controversy within the Republican conference. Earlier versions of the Senate reconciliation package included up to $1 billion for security upgrades connected to both the White House and the planned ballroom. However, Senate Republicans removed the funding provision from the revised bill after facing pushback from within their own ranks.
Trump has promoted the ballroom project as a major addition to the White House complex, but critics argue that Congress should retain oversight over significant federal construction projects, particularly those involving taxpayer dollars or privately funded improvements to government property.
Thursday’s vote offered a rare glimpse of bipartisan opposition to one of Trump’s high-profile priorities, with six Republican senators joining Democrats in an effort to force congressional approval before construction could move forward.
