Trump urges Senate to combine DHS funding bill with SAVE America Act

President Donald Trump suggested Monday that the Senate merges two of his biggest legislative priorities into one mega bill that would end the ongoing partial government shutdown. 

The major bill would combine the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act, which requires people to present proof of citizenship to register to vote and requires Americans to show ID when voting, and the final appropriations bill that would fund the Department of Homeland Security through September. 

The president made the suggestion at a roundtable in Memphis, Tennessee, to tout the successes of the Memphis Safe Task Force, which comes as the Senate continues its month-long stalemate. 

"We want voter ID, we want proof of citizenship as part of our funding," Trump said. "We want to merge them so that we can get the great, big, beautiful bill in action. I'm suggesting very strongly that the Republicans, in going for the SAVE America Act, that you weld it into exactly this because voter ID is part of Homeland Security.

"Think of it. We're talking about two separate items, but they're really the same," he continued. "Voter ID is part of Homeland Security. Proof of citizenship is part of homeland security. So I think it should be welded in. I think it should be together."

The suggestion comes as airports nationwide experience a Transportation Security Administration staffing shortage because workers are not being paid amid the shutdown. 

President Trump has sent Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to airports to assist the TSA with managing crowds and other duties.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.