DeLauro Statement on Court Ruling President Trump’s Billionaire Ballroom Illegal

WASHINGTON – House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) issued this statement following a ruling by a three-judge panel for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit that President Trump’s billionaire ballroom project cannot continue without Congressional authorization.

“The ruling issued today affirms what the Constitution and the founders made clear: the power of the purse belongs with the Congress. If President Trump wants to spend millions of dollars of taxpayer money to build a lavish ballroom to host his billionaire donors, Congress must approve it.

“Republicans in the House and the Senate will have to vote on whether to give President Trump money for this multi-million-dollar vanity project at a time when American families are struggling to afford gasoline, groceries, health insurance, housing, and childcare.

“I hope my Republican colleagues reject this corrupt use of public funds, and instead choose to work with Democrats in good faith to address the affordability crisis, and meet the needs of the American people.”

###