Two Senate Republicans are urging their House colleagues to reject the Senate-approved funding package unless it restores Department of Homeland Security funding and includes election integrity legislation.
Sens. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) are pressing House conservatives to push back against the deal, which funds five agencies including the Pentagon while a partial government shutdown remains in effect.
Both senators argue the package must be revised to reinsert DHS funding (which was removed after Democratic objections) and incorporate a modified version of the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, also known as the SAVE America Act.
"If House Republicans don’t put the DHS bill back in, add the SAVE America Act and remove the wasteful earmarks, Democrats win. We must protect our homeland, secure our elections and end the reckless spending NOW!
— Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.)
Scott voted against the Senate package twice, criticizing its spending levels for adding to the $38 trillion national debt and arguing that billions in earmarks contradicted prior Republican promises of fiscal discipline.
Lee echoed the call, urging House Republicans to insist on DHS funding and his voter ID legislation, which he co-introduced with Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas). The updated SAVE Act would require photo ID for voting, in-person proof of citizenship for registration, and removal of noncitizens from voter rolls.
Both senators strongly opposed earmarks in the package and argued that accepting the current version would hand Democrats a victory without addressing border security or election integrity.
Pressure Mounts on House Speaker Mike Johnson
The push from Scott and Lee puts House Speaker Mike Johnson in a difficult position. Several House conservatives, including Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), are already demanding inclusion of the SAVE Act in any final deal.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) has made clear that Democrats will not support fast-tracking the legislation on Monday via suspension of the rules, which requires a two-thirds majority. That leaves Johnson needing near-unified Republican support through the Rules Committee path.
Risk of Prolonged Shutdown
Any attempt to reinsert DHS funding or add the SAVE Act would send the bill back to the Senate, where Democrats would almost certainly reject it. This could extend the partial shutdown far beyond initial expectations.
Key Demands from Senate Republicans
The senators argue that the current deal fails to address critical priorities and rewards Democratic resistance tactics.
✓ Restore full DHS funding (removed after Democratic objections)
✓ Include the SAVE America Act for voter ID and citizenship verification
✓ Eliminate billions in earmarks from the package
✓ Reject the deal unless these changes are made
The demands directly conflict with the Trump-brokered Senate agreement that removed DHS funding to secure passage.
What's at Stake Monday
House Republicans return Monday facing a high-stakes vote. Speaker Johnson must balance conservative demands with the need to end the shutdown quickly.
Failure to pass the current package or secure enough votes for changes could prolong the funding lapse and deepen internal GOP divisions.
To my friends in the House GOP: Please put DHS funding back in, then add the SAVE America Act.— Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah)
The coming hours will show whether Senate pressure forces a House rebellion or if Speaker Johnson can unify his conference to end the shutdown on acceptable terms.
With both sides dug in, Monday’s proceedings could determine whether the shutdown remains brief or stretches longer.
