In an exclusive revelation, House Speaker Mike Johnson’s office has categorically denied reports that he directed Senate Republicans to excise funding for the SAVE Act from the government funding legislation. This clarification follows recent assertions suggesting Johnson’s involvement in recommendations to alter the bill after it successfully passed in the House.

The SAVE Act, a key element of the newly approved government funding legislation, has been a pivotal point of debate. Its inclusion has sparked diverse opinions and posed challenges within the legislative process. After gaining approval in the House, the bill now lies with the Senate, where any amendments would require subsequent reconciliation with the House version.

Johnson’s office refuted claims stemming from an anonymous source that hinted at the Speaker’s instructions to remove the SAVE Act funding, thus highlighting a potential miscommunication or disagreement among Republican counterparts in the House and Senate. This dispute underscores the complexities and political ramifications of negotiating significant funding measures.

As the Senate deliberates on the government funding bill, this development raises questions about the legislative alignment and strategy within the Republican Party, particularly regarding the contentious provisions of the SAVE Act. The outcome of these negotiations will have substantial implications for the final version of the funding plan.