President Donald J. Trump raised the stakes Monday in negotiations to end a 38-day Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown by urging Republican lawmakers to insist that any funding deal include passage of the SAVE America Act, an election integrity bill requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration and a valid voter ID to cast ballots in federal elections.
During events in Memphis, Tennessee, Trump stated: “The most important thing we can have is what’s called the SAVE America Act.” He urged Republicans to attach the legislation to any DHS funding agreement, saying: “Don’t make any deal on anything unless you include voter ID, and you have to be a citizen to vote.”
Trump also called for immediate action from Senate Republicans, asserting they did not need to consider Easter or returning home: “You don’t have to take a fast vote. Make this one for Jesus.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has opposed attaching the bill to a DHS funding deal, arguing it is “not realistic” for the Senate to guarantee its passage to reopen government. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) accused Trump of derailing negotiations, stating: “We hope that Donald Trump will stop derailing these talks and let negotiations continue.”
The SAVE America Act, which has broad bipartisan support and been adopted by the House of Representatives, has struggled to gain traction in the Senate despite pressure from Trump’s base. Democratic lawmakers had previously believed they were poised to secure several Republican votes for a partial DHS funding bill covering non-immigration enforcement activities.
