Trump's SAVE America Act stalls as McConnell's absence complicates Senate path

One key Republican’s extended absence and unclear timetable for return is slowing down several legislative priorities, and could impact President Donald Trump’s Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act in an unexpected way.

John Kennedy, R-La., told Fox News Digital the only option to pass SAVE America was through reconciliation, and he’s been working on his own plan in the background, and believes it could survive the Senate’s "Byrd" test.

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It comes as Republicans are twisting and contorting Trump's top election priority into something that could pass the Senate. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has been away from the Senate for more than a month after a medical emergency. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images) "That could be an issue," Sen.

And he noted that the SAVE America Act would have to comply with the Senate’s strict rules for reconciliation that unlock the 50-vote threshold, which the current version of the bill does not. "It’s at least a 50/50 shot." Alex Miller is a writer for Fox News Digital covering the U.S.

Do it now, before it is too late!!!“ 🔥 Video — Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) Jul 26, 2026

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Plus, we've got to find out what the conference wants to do, and what Leader John Thune wants to do." Thune is focusing on preventing a government shutdown, and is encouraging ongoing bipartisan negotiations on a funding deal to continue. Getting the legislation to a point where it wouldn’t slam into those guardrails has remained an open and difficult question for Republicans — Thune suggested that it could work if it's "very carefully structured based upon incentive, mostly grant money," for states. "So, you know, we're gonna do everything we can to move that forward," Thune said.

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Meanwhile, Thune has received criticism from Republicans for his plan to hold up the reconciliation process in favor of averting a shutdown. But if we don't do it through reconciliation, through the House reconciliation, we won't get it done." "And I’m not sure it will work, but I think it might," he continued.