SAVE Act dispute shelved as GOP clears way for funding bill after Trump urges no delays

WASHINGTON, DC: A last-minute push by House conservatives to attach a controversial elections bill to the government funding package has been pushed aside for now, clearing a key procedural hurdle and reducing the risk of another shutdown showdown.

Republican leaders moved Monday to keep the funding measure free of additional provisions after warnings that including the elections-related SAVE Act could jeopardize its passage in the Senate. The decision came hours after Donald Trump urged lawmakers to approve the agreement quickly and send it to his desk “WITHOUT DELAY,” insisting there be “NO CHANGES at this time.”

Although Trump had publicly pressed Congress in recent days to finalize a funding deal, negotiations had stalled. With the measure back on track, party leaders appeared focused on avoiding new complications that could once again derail the bill.

SAVE Act push temporarily sidelined

Conservatives have long supported the SAVE Act, which would require individuals to present proof of citizenship in person when registering to vote in federal elections. The measure passed the House in April but has not been taken up in the Senate.

On Monday, some House Republicans sought to attach the bill to the broader government funding package, effectively tying federal operations to the fate of the elections measure. The move risked complicating an already fragile path forward, as leadership worked to secure sufficient support to advance the spending legislation.

Party leaders ultimately moved to shut down the effort, shelving the demand and keeping the funding package unchanged for the time being.

Leadership guards fragile vote margins

The effort, led by Rep Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, posed a direct procedural risk. House GOP leaders can afford to lose only a single vote on a party-line procedural step ahead of final passage, leaving virtually no margin for internal disagreements.

Attaching the SAVE Act risked fracturing the conference support and could have stalled the measure before it reached the floor. With such a narrow margin, leadership signaled that any additional provisions could jeopardize the broader effort to reopen the government.

Senate warns bill would collapse

The Senate signaled that linking the two issues could jeopardize the funding deal. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer warned Monday that adding the SAVE Act would doom the package in the upper chamber.

The caution underscored the risk that even if the House approved a combined measure, it could stall in the Senate, prolonging the funding battle and heightening shutdown pressure.

Shortly afterward, Trump weighed in on Truth Social, urging lawmakers to pass the agreement as written and stressing that there should be no amendments should be made. 

Conservatives shift after White House meeting

Following a White House meeting, Luna and Rep Tim Burchett of Tennessee told reporters they would vote “yes” on the procedural measure to advance the funding package.

Both lawmakers cited assurances they said they received that the SAVE Act would eventually be considered in the Senate, though details remain unclear.

How and when the SAVE Act might move forward in the upper chamber remains uncertain. For now, the elections proposal has been set aside as Republicans prioritize passing the funding bill and keeping the government open.