<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A billion US dollars of taxpayer money has been set aside to fund </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/donald-trump" rel="" target="" title="Donald Trump"><span>Donald Trump</span></a><span>'s </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/white-house" rel="" target="" title="White House"><span>White House</span></a><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-ballroom-politicians-east-wing-whca-dinner-shooting-updates/9b908390-8d69-45c4-a4b8-1e8881be0053" rel="" target="" title="ballroom project"><span>ballroom project</span></a><span> in a bill to fund immigration enforcement.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In the $97 billion legislation to fund the controversial </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/minneapolis-ice-shooting-minnesota-immigration-murder-usa-live-news-updates-donald-trump-tim-walz-jacob-frey/d7f982db-bff6-41b5-ae42-914fcaee2ec3" rel="" target="" title="Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency"><span>Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency</span></a><span> is $1.4 billion for security work related to the renovations of the East Wing.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The funding proposal marks a dramatic shift in cost for Trump's massive overhaul of the White House.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/louisiana-election-suspended-redraw-districts-white-black-supreme-court-voting-rights-act/ce7d3f84-3277-4be5-8613-53ed911cccf8"><strong><span>US elections suspended so government can redraw the district lines</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Several months ago Trump said the renovations would cost $US200 million and be completely funded by private donations.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But the proposed budget would be five times that, with no indication of what is behind the quintupling of the cost.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>While officially drafted by Republican senators, the White House has welcomed the funding proposal.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-ballroom-billion-dollars-taxpayer-funding-usa-world-news/c22cc5b9-ef27-4b94-bd5e-9b1a8c4b311e" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The White House applauds Congress's latest proposal in its reconciliation package which includes additional funding for security infrastructure upgrades in relation to the long overdue East Wing Modernisation Project," a spokesperson said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Congress has rightly recognised the need for these funds."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The funding is "for the purposes of security adjustments and upgrades, including within the perimeter fence of the White House Compound to support enhancements by the United States Secret Service relating to the East Wing Modernisation Project, including above-ground and below-ground security features," the bill reads. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-ilhan-omar-married-brother-myth-usa-politics-news/2c8cf658-105c-4429-89c8-314d52747a72"><strong><span>Trump accuses congresswoman of marrying her brother</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The proposed funding has drawn the outrage of Democratic representatives.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Trump literally said his ballroom would not cost taxpayers a penny. Why are Republicans champing at the bit to fund it?" Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Even if this money is for 'security,' it's $1 BILLION of your tax dollars that wouldn't have been spent if Trump didn't tear down the East Wing."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>While the bill has been proposed, it is not certain to become law.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Republicans hold a very narrow margin in both the House of Representatives and in the Senate.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/most-of-white-house-east-wing-torn-down-photos-show/3580f2a7-6252-489d-8fcb-1433c92f52bb" rel="" target="" title="Donald Trump's ballroom"><span>Donald Trump's ballroom</span></a><span> and </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/minneapolis-ice-shooting-minnesota-immigration-murder-usa-live-news-updates-donald-trump-tim-walz-jacob-frey/d7f982db-bff6-41b5-ae42-914fcaee2ec3" rel="" target="" title="ICE"><span>ICE</span></a><span> are two of the most unpopular elements of the current administration.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Republicans in narrowly-held districts will be loath to fund both of them six months before the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/us-election" rel="" target="" title="midterm election"><span>midterm election</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-cognitive-test-montreal-aced-usa-politics-news/beafa9e2-b8dc-44e5-8f9f-07142f2124b6"><strong><span>'Not a test of IQ': Doctor who designed cognitive test addresses Trump's boasts</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>