Trump wants $1B to protect the White House grounds from drones and other threats

President Donald Trump’s plan to use taxpayer money to secure his White House living room included a military building — including a hard-top roof against drone strikes and a “port” that could house military equipment.

The statement came on May 19 when Trump gave reporters a tour of the ballroom operation that previously involved the demolition of the White House. East Wing. The president talked about setting up a drone center on the roof “without borders for drones” that is controlled by US military such as “a drone port that could protect all of Washington,” according to Reuters. He also highlighted the ballroom’s ceiling made from “impossible steel” which was supposed to be “proof” against drone strikes.

To pay for such measures, Mr. Trump has been advocating Republican lawmakers to the US Congress to approve a $1 billion fund to fund more of the “security changes and upgrades“Taxpayer-funded security enhancements could be the opposite of the $400 million ballroom construction project funded by private donorsincluding companies such as Amazon, apple, CoinbaseComcast, Google, HP Inc., Lockheed Martin, Meta, Micron Technology, Microsoft, Palantir, Ripple, and T-Mobile.

It is unclear whether anti-drone security measures and a rooftop drone port will also be included in the ballroom’s architectural design. But Trump’s comments are part of a new effort by the US government to protect homes and public facilities from drone attacks.

In January 2026, the Pentagon issued “Guidelines for the Physical Protection of Critical InfrastructureSuch barriers may include “concrete walls, barriers or solid roofs” designed to protect against drones or drone strikes, as well as overhead nets and ropes. War report.