John Thune

Rule Changes

Scheduled and won the floor votes

China and India have spent more than four years buying discounted Russian oil, helping keep money flowing to Moscow's war in Ukraine. On August 7, the U.S. Senate passed a bill to punish them for it. The vote was 86 to 11.

Updated Aug 7

Money Moves

Steered the bill to passage

ICE and Border Patrol budgets normally have to be renegotiated every year, which gives both parties leverage during shutdown fights. Early Friday, the Senate voted 52-47 to fund them for three years straight, through the end of President Trump's term.

Updated Jun 5

Rule Changes

Endorsed dropping the fund; cleared path for reconciliation bill

The Trump administration dropped its $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund on June 1, less than two weeks after creating it. Three forces killed it: a court freeze in Alexandria, a Senate Republican revolt that stalled the reconciliation bill, and a meeting between House Speaker Mike Johnson and Trump. No claims were ever paid.

Updated Jun 2

Rule Changes

Schedules floor vote despite lacking votes, resists filibuster change

Since 1993, Americans have registered to vote by attesting to their citizenship under penalty of perjury, with no proof required. The House passed the SAVE America Act 218-213 on February 11, 2026, mandating in-person documentary proof (a passport, birth certificate, or naturalization papers) for federal election registration.

Updated May 27

Rule Changes

Refusing to separate DHS funding from broader package

A three-day partial government shutdown ended February 3 when the House passed a split funding package 217-214 and Trump signed it. The deal provides full-year appropriations for five agencies through September and extends DHS funding through February 13.

Updated May 23

Rule Changes

Managed final Senate floor action leading to shutdown resolution

Congress hasn't completed all twelve annual spending bills on time since 1996. Fiscal Year 2026 saw a 43-day shutdown from October to November 2025, the longest in U.S. history, that furloughed 900,000 workers and cost $15 billion weekly.

Updated May 22

Rule Changes

Warned investigation must be legitimate

No president has ever criminally investigated a sitting Federal Reserve chair. When Trump's Justice Department served Jerome Powell with grand jury subpoenas on January 11, two Republican senators announced they would block all Fed nominees until the probe ends. With a 13-11 GOP majority on the Banking Committee, even one defection creates a confirmation stalemate.

Updated May 20

Rule Changes

Rejected House three-year extension but open to bipartisan Senate compromise with reforms

Enhanced premium tax credits expired January 1, 2026. By late January, 1.2 to 1.4 million fewer Americans had enrolled for marketplace coverage, with total 2026 enrollment at 22.8–22.9 million.

Updated May 11