Senate Republicans are desperately trying to plot an exit from Washington for their five-week August recess without drawing the ire of President Trump, who has publicly demanded they remain in session until they pass a budget reconciliation framework and elements of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act. Both measures face long odds in the chamber.
Following a Tuesday lunch meeting, GOP senators expressed frustration over the absence of a coherent strategy to conclude the legislative work period, which has already bled into August. "To be honest, it was a pretty worthless meeting," said Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.). "I have no idea where we are. If there's a plan, they're doing a really good job of hiding it."
Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) outlined his immediate priorities: passing a continuing resolution to fund the government through December 11, confirming roughly 75 of Trump's nominees en bloc, and advancing Todd Blanche's nomination for attorney general. Blanche cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday morning with support from GOP holdouts John Cornyn (Texas) and Thom Tillis (N.C.).
"We're juggling a lot of balls right now, but there are some things we intend to get done this week," Thune said. "The other thing of course we need to do is fund the government." The Senate voted 89-4 Monday to advance the CR, which Thune called essential to showing Americans that the federal government is functioning.
However, Thune conceded that the SAVE Act—already rejected five times—lacks the votes to pass, even as Trump continues to press for action. "It seems to me some days that I'm the only one here who can count to 50 in this town," he said, irritation evident.
Democrats have signaled a willingness to expedite votes on a Russia sanctions bill, the CR, and Blanche's confirmation—if Republicans agree to postpone any budget resolution until after recess. Such a resolution, which would fund the Iran conflict and election reforms, faces an uphill climb. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) has hinted she would vote against proceeding, and Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) remains absent due to health issues, leaving the GOP short of the needed majority.
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) are demanding spending offsets for any reconciliation package, but the House-passed $95 billion framework lacks them, potentially pushing them into opposition. Meanwhile, Senate Budget Committee Chair Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) has a resolution ready but hasn't circulated it.
The reluctance to force a budget vote stems from fears of politically damaging amendment votes, particularly on Iran. One GOP senator, speaking anonymously, noted that vulnerable colleagues don't want to be seen as funding an unpopular war. Polling shows independents strongly oppose the conflict, and Republican support is eroding. "It's terrible, just terrible," the senator said.
Adding to the logjam, Thune is pushing for a vote on the CLARITY Act, a cryptocurrency market structure bill. Democrats object, citing insufficient conflict-of-interest provisions regarding Trump's crypto ventures. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) argued, "No one should be supporting an act that permits Donald Trump to apparently take bribes out in public to make $1.4 billion on a crypto venture that costs the people who follow him more than $3 billion."
As the week unfolds, Thune faces the delicate task of balancing Trump's demands with the political realities of a narrowly divided Senate and a restless conference eager to head home.
