Donald Trump has intervened in a mounting House Republican revolt, throwing his support behind Speaker Mike Johnson’s plan to pass the SAVE America Act and billions in national security spending through a budget reconciliation package.
The legislative maneuver aims to bypass the Senate’s 60-vote threshold, allowing Republicans to pass the election integrity bill with a simple majority. However, the strategy has triggered a backlash from GOP fiscal hawks, who oppose the package’s lack of spending offsets (“payfors”) as the national debt reaches $39.5 trillion.
The proposed budget framework authorizes $95 billion in new government spending through 2036, which includes approximately $73 billion in national security funding amid the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran.
Writing on Truth Social, Trump thanked Speaker Johnson and the House Budget Committee, urging all House Republicans to “VOTE YES” on the upcoming Budget Resolution. Trump argued the step is critical to securing “as much of the SAVE America Act as possible,” alongside aid for farmers and military funding.
Despite Trump’s endorsement, several conservative lawmakers remain skeptical. Representative Eric Burlison (R-Mo.) told Fox News he would vote against the framework, citing the lack of spending offsets and the absence of language defunding Planned Parenthood. Representatives Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) and Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) also expressed concerns over the lack of “payfors,” though they left the door open for negotiations. Burchett predicted that the Senate would ultimately strip the SAVE America Act provisions from the bill, which would lead him to vote “no” when it returns to the House.
Conversely, some conservative fiscal hawks, such as Representative Marlin Stutzman (R-Ind.), backed the leadership’s approach, arguing that securing elections through the SAVE America Act outweighs short-term spending concerns. The SAVE America Act, which mandates a federal voter ID standard and proof of citizenship for voter registration, is opposed by Democrats who argue it amounts to voter suppression.
The current bill serves as a budget framework setting spending limits. Specific allocation details must be finalized by congressional committees in the coming weeks. Furthermore, incorporating non-budgetary policy like voter registration into a reconciliation bill faces strict Senate parliamentarian rules, which restrict what can be passed through the fast-track budget process.