Senators Push for White House Ballroom, Security Upgrades

0:00On April 28th, Senators are pushing a plan to build a 90,000-square-foot ballroom at the White House, replacing the East Wing with added. Security features like an underground military setup and a bigger secret service spot. The idea includes federal funding, but Senator Tim Scott from Florida is calling it out, saying there's no need for taxpayer cash when private money. Could cover it all, especially with our $39 trillion in national debt. Lawmakers like Lindsey Graham from South Carolina, Katie Britt from Alabama, and Eric Schmidt from Missouri are leading the charge. They want to pay for the basics and security through park fees and customs money, leaving private donors for the fancy stuff like dishes. Graham even chatted with President Trump about it over the weekend, and the White House seems on board. This push gained steam after an assassination attempt at Saturday's White House Correspondence Association dinner in Washington. A guy tried forcing his way into the Washington Hilton with a shotgun and handgun, right where Trump, vice president JD Vance, and top officials were, gathered.

1:06Secret service stopped him cold at the ballroom door. Graham says that, close call proves the need for a lockdown event space right on White House grounds, arguing the suspect never would have gotten. Close if it existed. The 31-year-old suspect, Cole Thomas Allen, faces charges for trying to assassinate Trump, plus gun and ammo transport across state lines, and firing during a violent crime. He showed up in federal court Monday without entering a plea, as the debate heats up over whether to fund this project publicly or keep it private. From across the country, powered by AI, this is US News Today. I'm Cory with the story.