'They're just sad': GOP splinters over Trump-pushed bill with little support

President Donald Trump has seemingly cooled on pushing the SAVE Act through the Senate, but the GOP is splintering under the weight of the bill.

The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act is legislation championed by President Donald Trump that would require voters to provide proof of citizenship to register to vote.

Trump has made the SAVE Act a top legislative priority, declaring in March 2026 that he will not sign any other bills into law until the SAVE Act reaches his desk.

Key provisions of the SAVE Act include ending mail-only voter registration, implementing nationwide photo ID requirements, restricting mail-in ballots except for military, illness, disability, or travel, and mandating rules to purge noncitizens from voter rolls.

Some Republican Party representatives, such as Mike Lee, are still pushing for action on the SAVE Act in time for the midterm elections, while others within the party are willing to give up on passing the bill.

Lee has since been criticized by party members for continuing to push the SAVE Act at a time when the GOP is focusing on other, more pressing issues.

Anonymous party reps noted the change in Senate mood over the SAVE Act, which NOTUS reported had been removed as a proposal as the GOP focuses on passing a budget resolution for the Department of Homeland Security.

“It’s gotten to the point of being beyond annoying. They’re just sad,” one Senate Republican said. “First of all, how do you have the time to do all of this? And how is this a priority in a serious institution of intellects discussing big stuff?”

“I think maybe the realization that we don’t have the votes for this is finally sinking in,” a separate Republican said. “I feel like [the pressure campaign] has sort of dissipated. … Maybe people are tiring of it — all except for [Lee] and a few others. Even the president hasn’t been talking about it as much.”

A third Republican official said that the party must now move on from the SAVE Act and it is simply too late to action it. "That horse has left the barn," they said.