With fewer than 100 days remaining before the midterm elections, pressure is mounting within the Republican Party for Senate leaders to accelerate President Donald Trump’s legislative agenda before lawmakers leave Washington for the campaign season.
Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana is among the Republicans urging Senate Majority Leader John Thune to move more aggressively, arguing that Republicans have limited time to advance several of the administration’s priorities.
Speaking on CBS News’ Face the Nation, Kennedy praised Thune but said he believed the Senate leader was being overly cautious.
“I think he’s just being too cautious,” Kennedy said, while emphasizing that he meant no disrespect toward Thune.
Kennedy also expressed skepticism that negotiations with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer would produce a bipartisan agreement on federal government funding. Congress faces a Sept. 30 deadline to prevent a partial government shutdown, adding another layer of urgency to the Senate’s legislative calendar.
Republican lawmakers are scheduled to leave Washington for an extended August recess before returning in September, leaving a relatively narrow window to address major legislation ahead of the election season.
Kennedy urged Republican leaders to use the remaining legislative days to pursue several priorities, including the House budget resolution, additional defense funding, assistance for farmers, cryptocurrency market-structure legislation and tougher sanctions against Russia.
He also called for sanctions targeting Iran to be included alongside the Russia measures.
Among the issues receiving particular attention is the SAVE America Act, legislation backed by Trump that would require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for registration in federal elections and impose additional voter-identification requirements.
Republicans have repeatedly sought Senate consideration of the measure, but Democratic senators have blocked efforts to advance it.
Kennedy argued that establishing stricter eligibility and identification requirements would strengthen public confidence in elections. He maintained that lawmakers should at least bring the legislation forward and allow senators to debate and vote on it.
The pressure on Thune is not coming solely from Republican senators. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has also indicated that the president is increasingly frustrated with the pace of Senate action. Trump has publicly encouraged Republican supporters to contact Thune and press for movement on his legislative priorities.
Thune, however, faces significant procedural obstacles. Under normal Senate rules, most legislation requires 60 votes to overcome a filibuster, meaning Republicans would generally need Democratic support for measures such as the SAVE America Act.
Republican leaders have therefore explored whether portions of the proposal could potentially move through the budget reconciliation process, which permits certain legislation with fiscal implications to advance with a simple majority. Any such strategy would have to comply with the Senate’s reconciliation rules and limitations.
With the August recess approaching and the Sept. 30 funding deadline looming, Republican leaders face competing demands from the White House, Senate conservatives and the broader legislative calendar.
The central challenge is now timing. Republicans must determine which elements of Trump’s agenda can realistically advance before lawmakers shift their focus almost entirely toward the midterm elections, while also navigating procedural rules, Democratic opposition and the approaching government-funding deadline.
