The Senate Passed a Funding Bill Without Trump's Voting Measure. The Government Runs Out of Money in 56 Days.

The Senate advanced its own stopgap funding bill on August 3 that deliberately excludes the SAVE America Act. The House passed a competing bill on July 21 that includes the voting measure. Government funding lapses at the end of September. Both chambers have bills, neither can pass the other’s version, and the deadline is 56 days away.

What the Senate Bill Does and Does Not Include

The Senate measure would fund the government through December at current levels. Senator Susan Collins described it as giving Congress time to complete full appropriations work. It does not include the SAVE America Act - the bill that would require documentary proof of citizenship to register and a valid photo ID to cast a ballot.

President Trump has demanded the SAVE Act be attached to any funding bill and called on Senate Majority Leader John Thune to cancel the August recess. Thune has said publicly he does not have the votes to pass the SAVE Act or to eliminate the filibuster that blocks it.

Why This Creates a Collision

The House passed its stopgap 220-205 on July 21, with six Democrats crossing over. That bill funds the government through December 4 and does not strip the SAVE Act requirement Trump demanded. The Senate bill covers the same period but is incompatible because it excludes that requirement.

For the two chambers to avoid a shutdown, one of them must pass the other’s version or a third compromise bill must emerge. Congress is heading into its August recess. The September 30 deadline arrives whether or not a deal is reached.

What a Shutdown Would Mean for You

A government shutdown delays Social Security payments, halts VA health appointments and benefit processing, closes federal agencies, and furloughs 1.4 million federal workers. The two prior shutdowns - a 43-day lapse in 2025 and a 76-day DHS shutdown in early 2026 - both caused documented disruptions to Social Security and veterans’ services.

References: Senate Creates Stopgap Legislation Contradicting Demands From Trump and House GOP | Government Funding House Vote Continuing Resolution