Sen. James Lankford said Saturday the Senate Republican Conference will delay its August recess if lawmakers cannot pass three major legislative priorities before the end of the week, signaling GOP determination to advance a contentious slate of bills despite deep internal divisions.
Lankford, the Oklahoma Republican who serves as Senate Republican Conference Vice Chair, outlined the three items on the GOP agenda during an appearance on Fox News Sunday: passage of a continuing resolution to fund the government through Sept. 30, confirmation of more than 70 of President Trump’s judicial nominees, and approval of a $95 billion reconciliation package that includes the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act.
“It’s a lot this week,” Lankford told host Shannon Bream. “If we don’t get it done this week, we’ll keep going until we do get it done.” He added later, “There’s not a plan to leave when it’s unfinished.”
The Senate is scheduled to begin its August recess at the end of Friday, extending through Sept. 14. Multiple Republican senators have called in recent days for canceling the break to focus on the party’s legislative push, particularly the SAVE America Act, which requires voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship when registering for federal elections.
President Trump has publicly demanded the Senate cancel recess to debate and pass the SAVE America Act. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, however, has consistently said Republicans lack the votes to bypass the filibuster and pass the legislation, creating a tension between the White House and Senate GOP leadership over the bill’s viability.
The $95 billion reconciliation package passed a key procedural hurdle in the House on July 22 by a vote of 216-214, with the framework allocating roughly $73 billion for military spending amid ongoing tensions with Iran, along with assistance for farmers and election-related provisions. However, Lankford acknowledged the complexity of the process in the Senate, noting that the reconciliation bill “takes weeks” to write and advance through multiple steps.
“You’ve got to get the first step done,” Lankford explained. “Once the first step is done, then it takes several weeks to write it and then to be able to actually take the second step.” When asked whether the Senate would actually remain in session through most of August, he said simply, “We’ll see.”
Senate Republicans are divided over the reconciliation package. Some fiscal conservatives have resisted the $95 billion price tag, while others have questioned whether the SAVE America Act can be implemented in time for the November 2026 midterm elections. Despite these fault lines, Lankford’s statement reflects the GOP leadership’s public commitment to keeping the chamber in session if legislative business remains unfinished—a position that carries political weight with Trump, who has made the recess delay a test of Republican resolve.
The move to delay recess echoes past instances when Senate leadership has extended sessions to complete priority legislation. In 2017, Senate Republicans delayed their August recess to work on healthcare reform, a precedent that underscores how lawmakers sometimes sacrifice their scheduled breaks when party leaders deem legislative items essential.
Sources
- The Hill — Lankford’s statement on Fox News Sunday about delaying recess if priorities are not passed, his outline of the three GOP priorities, and the scheduled August recess dates
- House Budget Committee and Politico — Details on the $95 billion reconciliation package, its passage in the House, and the breakdown of spending allocations
- KCRA and Politico — Senate GOP divisions over the reconciliation package and fiscal concerns from Republican senators
- Congress.gov and Bipartisan Policy Center — Information on the SAVE America Act’s requirements and current Senate status
- The Hill and Courthouse News — Trump’s demands for Senate recess cancellation and Thune’s statements on filibuster votes
