After gunfire struck the Washington Hilton press dinner Saturday, Republican leaders rushed to approve funding for President Trump’s proposed White House ballroom. Budget Committee chair Lindsey Graham and Homeland Security appropriations chief Katie Britt scheduled a Monday news conference, urging Congress to move quickly despite the project currently relying on private donations in the capital.

A federal judge previously ordered a stop to demolition of the East Wing to make room for the venue, citing lack of congressional authorization; an appeals court later permitted work to continue pending review. Republicans argue the gala attack exposed glaring security gaps, while Democrats, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, demand funding for the Secret Service instead of a luxury space.

The push dovetails with a stalled over‑70‑day shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security, which Republicans have refused to fund outside immigration enforcement. Speaker Mike Johnson says he will not bring the bipartisan Senate bill to the House floor yet. If Congress allocates money for the ballroom, lawmakers could gain oversight of a project the White House has pursued without any appropriations.