Marsha Blackburn

The Senate reconciliation bill being discussed will include funding connected to security for President Donald Trump's planned White House ballroom, Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., told Newsmax on Tuesday.

Appearing on Newsmax's "Wake Up America," Blackburn defended the reconciliation package as a necessary step to strengthen national security, protect law enforcement agencies, and ensure the federal government remains operational during Trump's second term.

"What we have to keep in mind is this is a public safety reconciliation," Blackburn said. "The Democrats have proven that they will do whatever it takes to try to defund law enforcement and abolish ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement]."

Blackburn said Republicans are using the reconciliation process to guarantee continued funding for Homeland Security agencies, including FEMA, TSA, Border Patrol, ICE, the Coast Guard, and the Secret Service.

"In order to keep government open and functioning ... the best thing to do is to use that process of reconciliation," she said, comparing the effort to the GOP's previous "Working Families Tax Cut" legislation.

One of the most closely watched provisions in the bill involves approximately $1 billion for security enhancements connected to Trump's planned White House ballroom project.

Critics have characterized the funding as extravagant spending tied to the ballroom itself, but Blackburn pushed back strongly on that claim.

"Indeed it is not," Blackburn said. "It is improvements for training and facilities that the Secret Service needs."

She explained that the funding would support broader East Wing modernization efforts designed to improve the Secret Service's operational capabilities and better protect government officials amid growing security threats.

"They have been able to articulate exactly what they need, why they need it," Blackburn said. "There are more protectees now than we have ever had because of the threats of violence."

The reconciliation debate comes as congressional Republicans continue prioritizing border security, immigration enforcement, and law-and-order initiatives under Trump's agenda heading into the 2026 election cycle.

Republicans have argued that reconciliation allows the GOP to bypass Democrat obstruction in the Senate on key funding priorities related to national security and immigration enforcement.

During the interview, Blackburn also discussed a Senate hearing she is holding Wednesday focused on sports betting integrity and the growing influence of gambling in professional and college athletics.

The Tennessee senator warned that legalized sports wagering is increasingly affecting young Americans and threatening the integrity of sports competition.

"Sports are based on fair play," Blackburn said. "Every time this happens, it really impacts the integrity of the sports."

Blackburn cited recent surveys showing that roughly 26% of teenage boys have used fantasy sports or sports wagering platforms in the past six months.

The hearing will examine concerns involving gambling regulation, prediction markets, and recent allegations of game-fixing in professional sports leagues.

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