Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) said on Monday that he will introduce legislation to move forward the construction of the White House ballroom. “I’m dropping a bill tomorrow. Let’s build the Ballroom,” Paul said. I'm dropping a bill tomorrow. Let's build the Ballroom. https://t.co/vlQTY1l3ub — Senator Rand Paul (@SenRandPaul) April 27, 2026 More from the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee: The NCPC thoroughly reviewed the project earlier this month, and Chairman Paul voted in favor of approval. Considering the assassination attempt at this year’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner, the legislation will allow the ballroom to proceed without requiring additional taxpayer funds and will establish an expedited congressional review process for major White House projects going forward. “Following the security scare at the Correspondents’ Dinner, it is clear we need efficient, responsible processes to address White House infrastructure needs,” Paul said. “As HSGAC Chairman and an NCPC Commissioner, I have personally reviewed and supported this project. My bill cuts through the unnecessary legal delays getting in the way of the East Wing Modernization project. This bill ensures the ballroom can move forward using private funding, protects taxpayers, and creates a faster approval pathway for critical improvements while maintaining congressional oversight. I will ask to pass my bill by unanimous consent tomorrow,” he continued. “We were there front and center. That venue wasn’t built to accommodate an event with the line of succession for the U.S. government. After witnessing last night, drop the TDS and build the White House ballroom for events exactly like these,” Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) said. We were there front and center. That venue wasn’t built to accommodate an event with the line of succession for the U.S. government. After witnessing last night, drop the TDS and build the White House ballroom for events exactly like these. pic.twitter.com/eeUBnlSe5y — U.S. Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) April 26, 2026 Meanwhile, preservationists are pressing forward with their lawsuit against the $400 million project, declining a request by the Justice Department to withdraw the complaint. Preservationists are pressing ahead with their lawsuit against President Trump's planned $400 million White House ballroom, declining a request by the Department of Justice to withdraw the complaint. https://t.co/IkPJ9jz8Si — ABC News (@ABC) April 27, 2026 The Associated Press explained further: Trump and other conservatives have made a renewed push for the ballroom in the wake of Saturday’s media dinner shooting, arguing it exposed the difficulties in ensuring presidential security at large events outside the White House grounds, and urging the National Trust for Historic Preservation to drop its lawsuit. Top Justice officials said the government would ask a court to dismiss the lawsuit “in light of last night’s extraordinary events” if the Trust did not voluntarily drop it. Trust attorney Gregory Craig declined that request, writing to the Justice Department that the legal issues at the heart of the lawsuit are unchanged. “What Saturday’s awful event does not change is that the Constitution and multiple federal statutes require Congress to authorize construction of a ballroom on White House grounds, and that Congress has not done so,” Craig wrote. A spokesperson for the Justice Department did not immediately return a message seeking comment. The preservation group sued in December, a week after the White House finished demolishing the East Wing to make way for a ballroom that Trump said would fit 999 people. Trump says the project is funded by private donations, although public money is paying for a below-ground bunker and security upgrades. In its lawsuit, the Trust argued that Trump had overstepped his authority by moving forward with the project without first getting approval from key federal agencies and Congress. A federal appeals court has allowed Trump to continue the project, ruling a day after a lower court judge continued to block above-ground construction on the site and scheduling a June 5 hearing to review the case.