Democrats celebrate Senate ruling as Republicans scramble to salvage funding tied to Trump’s expansion project

President Donald Trump's new White House ballroom has gotten final approval from a key commission. This comes after a federal judge ordered a halt to construction unless Congress approves the project.

Trump, seated next to first lady Melania Trump, was quickly surrounded by Secret Service agents, while many attendees ducked under their tables.

A proposal to fund $1 billion in security additions for the White House campus and the president’s new ballroom fails to meet procedural rules, according to the

Senate Republicans ​are seeking $1bn (£0.7bn) in taxpayer funding for security upgrades to the ballroom, but Democrats say the project is expensive and frivolous.

Critics say a White House ballroom would be a "vanity" project for President Donald Trump. He and the Department of Justice say it's needed for security.

A Republican plan to earmark federal funding for President Donald Trump’s planned ballroom hit at least a temporary roadblock Saturday in the US Senate.