Senate Republicans have a big ballroom problem on their hands.

The White House and party leaders are trying to sell lawmakers on security funding for President Donald Trump’s planned White House ballroom. But there’s growing concern among Republican senators about the optics of approving the money ahead of midterm elections with voters from both parties saying they are most concerned about the rising cost of living.

“I’ve got a lot of questions that need to be answered,” said Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican. “If I’m in the Democratic marketing department, I’m probably thinking of a lot of ways I would use this to target senators that vote for it.”

“Even if you can get past the policy and justify it, the timing and optics are really bad,” he added.

Secret Service Director Sean Curran met with Republican senators at a weekly closed-door caucus lunch on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, but his briefing failed to quell concerns about the $1 billion funding request. Multiple senators left the meeting demanding more information about how the money would be spent.

“They need to go back and get us more details about exactly how they arrived at the figure,” Indiana Sen. Todd Young said.

Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy said he’s drafting an amendment to address senators’ concerns. The amendment would reduce the total size of the larger budget package from $72 billion to $71 billion, giving the Homeland Security Department the option of beefing up Secret Service funding for the ballroom or immigration enforcement.

“If that is the way [DHS Secretary] Markwayne Mullin wants to spend his $71 billion, $1 billion on security and the rest on his operations, that’s his call, within reason, but we wouldn’t add to the deficit,” Kennedy told NOTUS.

Sen. Susan Collins, the chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said construction of the ballroom needed to be paid for with private donations, as Trump has repeatedly said it would be. The Maine Republican, who faces a tough reelection fight this year, questioned the math and rationale behind the funding request.

“What would be the increased security that is needed for the Secret Service, what would that dollar amount be if there were no ballroom?” Collins asked in an interview with NOTUS. She said Secret Service needs should have been funded in the annual budget request.

“Why weren’t they fully funded in the president’s budget, which just came out last month?” said Collins.

Senate Republicans can stand to lose up to three votes on a party-line reconciliation package, giving them little breathing room as members air their concerns.

Beyond Curran’s appearance at lunch, Senate Majority Leader John Thune pushed back on the $1 billion figure by telling reporters that only 20% of that would be for security of the East Wing and the ballroom.

The remaining $800 million would go toward “other Secret Service priorities,” Thune said.

According to a White House breakdown of the $1 billion, about $220 million would go specifically toward the East Wing project.

Secret Service training, a White House visitors screening facility, and enhancements for protectee security would be allotted about $175 million each. One Senate Republican told NOTUS that the Secret Service currently handles security for more than 40 individuals, including Trump and his family and Cabinet members.

About $150 million would be directed toward evolving threats and technology, while the remaining $100 million would provide security for events of “national significance” — such as the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

Other Republicans argue that beefing up security at the White House makes sense, particularly following the latest assassination attempt against Trump at last month’s White House Correspondents’ dinner.

“I think the renovations at the White House will dramatically improve its functionality,” Sen. Ted Cruz told NOTUS. The Texas senator called opposition to the ballroom’s construction “a manifestation of Trump derangement syndrome, particularly given that President Trump will likely not even be in office when the ballroom is completed.”

“The ballroom is essentially a gift to all future presidents,” Cruz added.

But that rationale seems to be lost on the public, who reject Trump’s ballroom plans by a wide margin, according to a recent Washington Post-ABC News poll.

House opposition also remains a hurdle, although White House officials are betting if the package can survive the Senate, they can strong-arm House lawmakers into supporting it.

Democrats, meanwhile, are eager about the prospect of forcing Republicans to vote to support ballroom funding in the face of cuts to domestic spending, including health care subsidies that expired at the beginning of the year.

“Ask Americans how many people want to see a billion dollars for a ballroom and no money to help reduce the cost of food, the cost of electricity, the cost of housing, the cost of child care,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Tuesday. “When will Republicans take the hint? When will they realize that Americans want lower costs, not a gold-plated ballroom for our billionaire president?”