House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., reportedly is eyeing a stopgap spending measure that would likely fund the government through the midterm elections, setting up what Republicans hope will be another high-stakes showdown with Democrats over federal funding and election integrity.
Johnson said Thursday the House's next major legislative move will be a continuing resolution that would extend current government funding beyond the Sept. 30 fiscal year deadline, likely into the post-election lame-duck session, Politico reported.
The proposal comes as Johnson has privately urged President Donald Trump to back the strategy, with Republicans believing another spending fight could highlight Democrat opposition to GOP priorities ahead of November's elections, according to Politico.
"We haven't decided all that yet," Johnson said when asked whether the Republican-backed SAVE America Act would be attached to the stopgap bill.
"The SAVE America Act is the No. 1 priority for us, and we're going to attach it to everything that makes sense," Johnson said. "So we'll have to see."
Republicans have increasingly sought to tie must-pass legislation to the SAVE America Act, which would require proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections.
The House approved the measure earlier this year, but it has stalled in the Senate.
Politico reported that while some Democrats may support a clean funding extension, GOP leaders are weighing whether to force Democrats to vote against election-integrity provisions that have become a centerpiece of Trump's legislative agenda.
Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, suggested Congress should simply extend funding until after the election, calling it "the adult thing" to do because lawmakers are unlikely to complete all appropriations bills before the fiscal year ends.
Meanwhile, House Republicans are also racing to advance a separate $95 billion reconciliation framework before the August recess.
According to The Hill, the package includes $73 billion for defense and intelligence programs, $12 billion in agricultural assistance, and $10 billion aimed at implementing Trump-backed election integrity initiatives similar to the SAVE America Act.
The proposal has drawn criticism from fiscal conservatives who argue it lacks spending offsets.
Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, predicted the framework would be "DOA," while Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, said he remained undecided, warning it would be a mistake to rush the measure to the House floor.
House GOP leaders contend the narrower package reflects negotiations with the White House and Senate Republicans while addressing urgent Pentagon needs following the conflict with Iran.
Vice President JD Vance urged House Republicans to unite behind the legislation, saying it would strengthen national defense, support farmers, and advance election integrity after Democrats refused to back the SAVE America Act in the Senate.