Conservatives Trash GOP Plan To Fund TSA Without SAVE Act

Key Points:

• Conservative Republicans are opposing a proposed two-step deal to reopen the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that would delay sweeping voter ID legislation demanded by President Trump until after initial DHS funding.
• The plan involves immediately funding DHS to address airport security issues, then passing the SAVE America Act and ICE funding later via budget reconciliation, a process that Senate rules prohibit for policy-only provisions like voter ID requirements.
• Key Republican senators, including Mike Lee and Ron Johnson, have expressed skepticism or outright rejection of the reconciliation strategy, while the House Freedom Caucus condemned the plan as deceptive political theater.
• Democrats insist on including ICE reform measures, such as mask and ID requirements for immigration officials, as conditions for supporting DHS funding, with some already backed by the White House but not yet codified into law.
• The DHS funding deal requires 60 Senate votes, necessitating bipartisan support that remains uncertain amid ongoing disagreements over immigration enforcement and election law changes.