John Thune warns cyber operations are at risk while pushing for Trump’s SAVE America Act

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, RS.D., accused Democrats of holding government back at a dangerous time as the party refused to enter a deadlocked funding battle.

“They’ve got all these government agencies, including the TSA, including the cyber bureau — which is in charge of all our computer operations — and here we live in a dangerous world where we’re concerned about Iran’s cyber operations,” he said.

Thune joined “Special Report” on Tuesday to discuss the congressional gridlock created by Democrats over funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the passage of the SAVE America Act.

Thune’s comments come as airports across the country are facing major disruptions and long wait times when TSA agents are off duty due to the partial government shutdown of DHS.

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“There’s a whole list of DHS jobs funded by that appropriations bill that Democrats chose not to open,” she said.

“I don’t know how you can defend the issue of ‘defunding’… which is exactly what they are doing.”

The Senate voted Tuesday to open debate on the SAVE America Act, which would require proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections.

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“This is about safe and secure elections in this country and making sure that we have an election system that has the right people, not just those who are in the country illegally, get the chance to vote,” said Thune.

Thune explained to Fox News what the GOP’s goal is for the upcoming debate.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, RS.D., and the GOP are bracing for a low-level battle with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, DN.Y., and Senate Democrats over Trump-backed voter ID legislation. (Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images)

“What we wanted to do was put them on the record, force them to defend a position that we think is indefensible, especially where the American people are on this,” he told Fox News political anchor Bret Baier.

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The SAVE America Act is part of President Donald Trump’s legislative agenda. He threatened that he would not approve any more bills unless Congress complied with his demands.

Thune said voter identification is “broadly” supported by Americans of all political parties and that the Democrats’ focus on the issue could be an opportunity for the GOP to gain political traction.

“I think that’s an easy position and one that Democrats should end up in,” he told Fox News. “But if they don’t do it, it’s obviously our problem [GOP] he will be able to use, I think, in the autumn election. So, there is politics around it. “

Voter identification signs are posted outside a polling place at the old Guilford County Courthouse on the last day of early voting in Greensboro, North Carolina, on Nov. 2, 2024. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

GOP leaders will allow an amendment to the SAVE America Act during the debate, and Thune is expected to file a motion to close the debate, which will lead to a final vote requiring 60 votes to advance the bill.

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Thune reiterated his commitment to comply with the president’s official demands regarding voter identification.

“It is a priority for the president,” he said. “There are a lot of people across the country who want to see this put to a vote, and we’re going to make sure it goes to a vote at the end of that, and we’re going to see where my people stand.”