President Donald Trump’s demand that Congress pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act before he signs the largest housing affordability package in decades fell on deaf ears after Senate Majority Leader John Thune moved to adjourn the Senate until July 13.
Last week, the president canceled a planned signing ceremony for the bipartisan housing bill, calling it “of minor importance” and insisting lawmakers first approve the SAVE America Act, which he has described as a “national emergency.” However, with the Senate entering a recess during which no legislative business will be conducted, Trump’s ultimatum has effectively been put on hold while both bills hang in limbo.
Senate recess delays action on Donald Trump’s ultimatum
On Wednesday, June 24, Thune moved to adjourn the Senate for the Independence Day recess. “I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stands adjourned to then convene for pro forma sessions only with no business being conducted. … And when the Senate adjourns on Thursday, July 9, it stands adjourned until 3pm on Monday, July 13,” he told the chamber. The request was approved without objection. Since pro forma sessions involve no votes or legislative debate, senators will not be able to consider the SAVE America Act before July 13. The Senate is then expected to meet briefly before another recess in August, further delaying any potential action.
Housing bill stalls despite overwhelming bipartisan support
The housing package passed the Senate on Monday, June 22, by an 85-5 vote before clearing the House on Tuesday, June 23, by a 358-32 margin. The legislation, aimed at boosting home construction and reducing housing costs, appeared headed for the president’s desk until Trump abruptly canceled a scheduled signing ceremony on June 24. Writing on Truth Social, Trump announced the ceremony was “cancelled until such time as we pass the desperately needed SAVE America Act, which I consider to be a national emergency.”
Asked on Wednesday whether he would negotiate over the housing package, Trump instead renewed his call for lower interest rates and voter identification legislation. “I said I’m not signing it. I made billions of dollars with housing. I know housing better than anybody. Lower interest rates,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “I don’t want to hurt people that own houses either. These people, for the first time in their lives, they have valuable houses. They become rich. I don’t want to hurt them either.”
‘Donald Trump doesn’t seem to care’
The president’s move caught many lawmakers off guard, including some who had already arrived for the signing ceremony. “This just doesn’t make any sense other than whatever it is he wants to do, it’s a complete indifference to the cost squeeze on American families,” Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a co-sponsor of the bill, said Wednesday.
Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona argued that Trump is ignoring an immediate affordability crisis. “Well, he’s not prioritizing the American people. I mean, rent, homeownership, all that stuff is a big challenge for millions of Americans,” Kelly told Newsweek. “Can’t afford their lives, can’t afford a place to live, and that strongly bipartisan legislation, you know, provided some relief to the American people, but Donald Trump doesn’t seem to care.”
Thune, meanwhile, struck a more optimistic tone, saying before a planned lunch with Senate Republicans and Trump, “That was his call to make. What I would say is that the bill is a bill that’s been worked on for a long time. It’s an affordability issue, and eventually I hope he’ll find his way to sign it.”
Donald Trump allies frustrated over Senate recess decision
The Senate’s decision to recess frustrated Trump’s allies, particularly Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, whose call to remain in session was later shared by the president on Truth Social. “We do have a lot to do, a lot of work that needs to be done. The SAVE America Act really does need to be passed. Why are we taking a recess right now? Why on earth is the Senate wanting to recess for two weeks?” Lee said in a video posted Wednesday. “We should finish our work,” he added. “We should do all we possibly can to pass the SAVE America Act instead of recessing for two weeks, only to come back and work for a few weeks and then recess for another five or six weeks after that.”
Sen. Tommy Tuberville echoed the criticism on X, writing, “The Senate is about to recess for TWO WEEKS. In August, we’re leaving for OVER A MONTH. There is PLENTY of time to pass the SAVE America Act.”
Lee and Tuberville were among the five Republicans who opposed the housing bill, alongside Sens. Ron Johnson, Rand Paul and Rick Scott. Lee argued that the legislation “doesn’t do enough” to improve affordability, while Tuberville said it was fiscally irresponsible and alleged it “writes a blank check to blue cities, which we all know will end up going to illegals, not American citizens.”
