Senate Republicans propose $1bln for secret service, White House security upgrades

WASHINGTON: Senate Republicans have proposed a $1 billion funding package for the U.S. Secret Service, aimed at strengthening security systems and upgrading White House-related protection measures.

The proposal is part of a larger $72 billion spending plan focused mainly on immigration enforcement and border security. It includes major allocations for agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), as Republicans push for stricter immigration policies.

The funding package was introduced under a process known as reconciliation, which allows Senate Republicans to bypass the usual 60-vote requirement and pass legislation without Democratic support.

While President Donald Trump has stated that his proposed White House ballroom project, estimated at around $400 million, would be funded through private donations, the Senate proposal does not clearly specify how much, if any, of the Secret Service funding would be directed toward that project.

The broader bill also includes funds for the Department of Justice, Homeland Security, and additional border security technology. Republicans say the package is intended to improve national security and law enforcement capacity.

However, Democratic lawmakers have criticized the proposal, arguing that it prioritizes costly enforcement measures and politically driven projects while ignoring economic challenges faced by ordinary Americans.