President Donald Trump demanded the firing of Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough after she ruled against Republicans' attempt to approve $1 billion in funding tied to security upgrades for Trump's White House ballroom project over the weekend of May 16-17, 2026 [1, 2]. MacDonough determined that the funding could not pass through the budget reconciliation process and instead required the 60-vote threshold to overcome a Senate filibuster [1, 2].
The blocked $1 billion was part of a broader $72 billion immigration enforcement funding package Republicans are negotiating. About $600 million was designated for the Secret Service, with $220 million earmarked for East Wing security modernization [2].
On May 20, Trump criticized Senate Republicans for not removing MacDonough, accusing them of playing a "very soft game compared to the Dumocrats" and citing unfair treatment by the parliamentarian. He said, "Shockingly, Republicans have kept the very important position of ‘Parliamentarian’ in the hands of a woman, Elizabeth MacDonough, who was appointed, long ago, by Barack Hussein Obama and a vicious Lunatic known as Senator Harry Reid, who ran the Senate for the Dumocrats with an ‘iron fist.’ Over the years, she has been brutal to Republicans, but not so to the Dumocrats — So why has she not been replaced? There are many fair people who would be qualified for that vital job" [2].
Senate Majority Leader John Thune pushed back on calls to fire MacDonough. He said tensions often flare during reconciliation processes and said, "There are always people that are unhappy with some decisions that come down, and it's kind of the nature of the beast. So, you know, we will work through the process and do our best to get the things that we want, you know, on the floor, later this week" [2].
Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley noted the parliamentarian has ruled against both parties before, stating, "I think the best answer to that is that the parliamentarian has demonstrated in the Biden administration with their recommendations, reconciliations that they didn't get everything they wanted" [2].
Negotiations on the immigration enforcement package, minus the $1 billion ballroom security funding, are ongoing.
