The Brian Lehrer Show Recapping the Senate's Weekend Session
Mar 23, 2026
Alexander Bolton, senior staff writer at The Hill covering Congress, breaks down the Senate's rare weekend session. He highlights debates over DHS funding and the SAVE America voting bill. He talks airport disruptions, political blame games, and whether Republicans can muster votes for sweeping changes. The conversation sketches who stands to gain or lose politically.
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Weekend Session Triggered By DHS Shutdown Pain
- The Senate held a rare weekend session focused on DHS funding and the SAVE America Act, signaling heightened urgency.
- Airport security strains from the partial DHS shutdown produced long TSA lines at LaGuardia, JFK, Houston and Atlanta, pressuring lawmakers.
GOP Senators Consider Splitting DHS Bill
- Some Senate Republicans, led publicly by Ted Cruz, proposed splitting DHS funding to immediately reopen TSA while funding ICE later via reconciliation.
- Cruz urged separating TSA, FEMA and cyber funding from ICE/CBP to relieve airport chaos, citing high TSA absenteeism in Houston.
Trump Blocks GOP Split And Pushes SAVE Act
- President Trump publicly rejected splitting the DHS bill and pushed the Senate to keep debating the SAVE America Act instead.
- Trump framed prolonged debate on the SAVE Act as political leverage to force Democrats on immigration rules.