Senator Moves To Expand SAVE America Act With Trump Priorities

Senate Republicans are moving to dramatically expand a major election integrity bill, aligning it more closely with President Donald J. Trump’s second-term agenda as the 2026 midterms approach.

U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) announced plans to introduce a substitute amendment to the SAVE America Act, a proposal that goes beyond election safeguards to include protections for women’s sports and restrictions on irreversible medical procedures for minors.

In a statement, Schmitt emphasized the broader scope of the effort and its alignment with the White House.

“The American people want to see a return to common sense,” Schmitt said in a statement. “I’ve worked closely with President Trump and the White House to introduce a substitute amendment that will save our elections, save women’s sports, and save our children.”

The original SAVE America Act focused primarily on election security reforms, including requiring proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote, mandating photo identification at polling locations, and limiting mail-in voting to clearly defined circumstances such as military duty, illness, disability, or travel.

Schmitt’s revised version would significantly expand those provisions. The amendment calls for universal voter ID requirements, strict proof of citizenship standards, and an end to mass mail-in voting outside narrow exceptions. It also addresses cultural flashpoints by restricting women’s sports to biological females and prohibiting gender-transition surgeries for minors.

President Trump has publicly encouraged congressional Republicans to broaden the legislation, urging leaders in both chambers to incorporate these priorities into the final package.

On the Senate floor, Majority Leader John Thune framed the effort as a necessary stand for both election integrity and the protection of America’s youth.

“If there’s anything essential to the integrity of elections, it’s ensuring that those who are registered to vote are eligible to vote — and that those who show up to vote at polling places are who they say they are,” Thune said.

Thune repeatedly described the legislation as “commonsense,” arguing that voter ID and citizenship verification are basic standards Americans already accept in everyday life. He also pointed to polling that suggests broad support for such measures, while criticizing Democrats for opposing them.

Beyond election law, Republicans are increasingly tying the issue to broader cultural concerns. Thune highlighted what he described as unfair competitive advantages in women’s athletics, referencing a United Nations report indicating that female athletes have lost medals in events involving transgender competitors.

“The SAVE America Act would ensure that men are not allowed to hijack women’s sporting opportunities,” Thune said.

He also spoke forcefully against gender-transition procedures for minors, citing data showing thousands of adolescents underwent such surgeries in recent years.

“This madness has to end,” he said, noting that both European nations and several U.S. states have begun imposing restrictions.

The legislative push comes as Republicans hold a 53-seat Senate majority, though advancing the measure will likely require overcoming a filibuster—meaning at least some Democratic support will be necessary.

Democrats have pushed back, arguing the bill could disenfranchise eligible voters and criticizing Republicans for combining election reforms with social policy provisions in a single piece of legislation.

The expanded proposal would also require states to actively remove non-citizens from voter rolls and implement stricter verification systems. Supporters argue that the United States lags behind other nations that use more robust methods to confirm voter eligibility, while critics maintain that instances of non-citizen voting are already rare and adequately addressed under current law.

Debate over the measure is expected to continue for several days, with Republicans aiming to force clear positions from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

Whether Schmitt’s amendment ultimately secures the votes needed remains uncertain, but its introduction underscores a broader Republican strategy: advancing election integrity, cultural protections, and Trump-aligned priorities as central pillars heading into the 2026 election cycle.