Two Republican Senators, Rick Scott from Florida and Mike Lee from Utah, are urging their House colleagues to reject a government shutdown deal backed by President Trump, unless it contains provisions for homeland security funding and election integrity.
As the partial government shutdown continues, Scott and Lee are pushing House Republicans to stand against Senate-approved funding packages, which notably include financial support for five federal agencies, including the Defense Department. They believe that the current proposal needs significant changes to incorporate a revamped version of the SAVE America Act, focused on voter eligibility, and a funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which was removed after Senate Democrats threatened a funding impasse.
Scott remarked that Congressional Democrats “will never defund” DHS and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He expressed his concerns about the funding levels contributing to the nation’s rising debt, which stands at around $38 trillion. He criticized the current spending plan for betraying previous commitments to fiscal responsibility by Republicans. “Democrats will win unless House Republicans reinstate the DHS bill, add the SAVE America Act, and eliminate wasteful spending,” he stated. “It’s crucial to protect our homeland, secure our elections, and stop reckless spending.”
Lee has also rejected the Senate package, emphasizing the importance of deadlines while echoing Scott’s insistence on including the SAVE America Act, which he proposed alongside Representative Chip Roy from Texas. He communicated to House Republicans, “Please restore DHS funding and then add the SAVE America Act.” The most recent iteration of the SAVE Act mandates that voters present a photo ID and require states to verify citizenship during voter registration, while removing noncitizens from the voter rolls.
However, these demands conflict with Trump’s intention to negotiate a truce with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, especially following a recent violent incident involving a migrant operation in Minneapolis. Their proposed changes could complicate the situation further, potentially extending what was expected to be a brief shutdown.
Any alterations to the deal, particularly the addition of the SAVE America Act or a DHS bill, could necessitate sending the package back to the Senate, where Schumer and his party are likely to oppose it. This back-and-forth could lengthen the temporary shutdown even more.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson from Louisiana faces a tough situation as many House Republicans are looking to negotiate terms with Senate Democrats. Representative Anna Paulina Luna from Florida is already advocating for the inclusion of the SAVE Act in the funding negotiations. Johnson is likely to encounter significant resistance from within his party, especially since House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries from New York has warned that any rush to advance the bill could stall when the House reconvenes on Monday.
