Speaker Mike Johnson battles GOP faction over SAVE America Act

House Speaker Mike Johnson is attempting to attach the voter‑ID‑focused SAVE America Act to a budget‑reconciliation package that also includes a $350 billion defense spend. The strategy is meant to bypass the Senate filibuster, but it faces strong resistance from hard‑line Republicans in the House, including Rep. Chip Roy and Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, who are demanding that immigration‑reform measures and other long‑awaited bills be taken up first.

The Senate side is equally problematic. Senate Parliamentarian rules that 60 votes are needed to pass the bill, and Senate Majority Leader John Thorne Thune has refused to change the filibuster rules or replace the parliamentarian. Critics say the narrow GOP majority in the Senate makes passage unlikely. Johnson’s push for the SAVE America Act and a separate border‑security bill has exacerbated internal Republican tensions as the 2026 midterm elections approach, threatening the party’s ability to deliver significant legislation before the November vote.