1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

I'm asking you to vote to strip the $1 billion White House ballroom security funding from the Republican reconciliation bill when it reaches the Senate floor this month. President Trump promised repeatedly that his 90,000 square-foot ballroom would cost taxpayers nothing. He said in November that "not one penny is being used from the federal government." That was false. The reconciliation bill includes $1 billion for security enhancements tied to the East Wing Modernization Project, including above-ground and below-ground security features within the White House perimeter fence. This is a bait and switch. Private donors already paid for construction costs. Now taxpayers are expected to cover $1 billion in additional expenses for a vanity project that required demolishing the historic East Wing without public input. The White House is trying to justify this by citing security concerns, but that doesn't change the fact that Trump broke his promise. Sen. Brian Schatz is forcing a vote on this provision. I need you to vote no on taxpayer funding for Trump's ballroom. If the president wants this project, private donors should cover all costs, including security upgrades.