White House Safety and Security Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- S. 4430
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-29: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-14T16:51:42Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The White House Safety and Security Act of 2026 (S. 4430) authorizes funding and related measures for the East Wing Modernization Project at the White House. This project aims to enhance safety, security, and facilities, including a secure State Ballroom (a large event space), visitor screening areas (checkpoints for guests), and other national security features.
Key Provisions
- Funding Appropriation: Provides $400 million for fiscal year 2026 from general Treasury funds (money not already assigned to other uses). This covers design, construction, and related costs for the East Wing project. Funds remain available until January 20, 2029 (the typical end of a presidential term).
- Use of Existing Resources: Allows use of any prior funds or donations in the White House Repair and Restoration account.
- Extension of Customs Fees:
- Extends two customs user fees (fees paid by importers for processing goods) from December 31, 2031, to March 31, 2032:
- Fees under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985.
- Merchandise processing fees under the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- New Authorization: Creates a specific funding stream for the East Wing project under 3 U.S.C. § 105(d) (a law allowing the President to manage White House operations).
- Fee Extensions: Shortens the phase-out period for certain import processing fees by three months, delaying their expiration.
Potential Impacts
- White House Operations: Upgrades security and visitor facilities, potentially improving event hosting and protection for the President, staff, and visitors.
- Government Agencies: Benefits the Executive Office of the President; U.S. Customs and Border Protection collects extended fees, generating minor additional revenue (~3 months).
- Citizens and Businesses: Importers pay customs fees slightly longer; taxpayers fund the project via general Treasury money.
- No Direct International Impact: Fee extension affects U.S.-Korea trade agreement but is minor.
Main Stakeholders
- President and White House Staff: Direct beneficiaries of improved facilities and security.
- U.S. Treasury and Congress: Manage and oversee the appropriation.
- Importers and Businesses: Affected by extended customs fees.
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection: Continues fee collection.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Relies on Congress's power to appropriate funds (Article I, Section 9 of the Constitution) and statutory authority for White House projects.
- Constitutional: Standard exercise of federal spending authority; no apparent challenges.
- Political: Introduced by Senators Graham, Britt, and Schmitt; referred to Senate Finance Committee, signaling focus on executive branch infrastructure and revenue measures. No controversial elements noted in the bill text.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (2)
Sen. Britt, Katie Boyd [R-AL], Sen. Schmitt, Eric [R-MO]
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-29: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- 2026-04-29: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- White House Safety and Security Act of 2026 — issued 2026-04-29 — PDF (2 pages)