Overview
- The retiring senator sent a 15-paragraph letter that was reported Tuesday and sharply criticized colleagues for pressing SAVE America Act votes and for 41 Republicans voting to protect the 1776/Anti-Weaponization Fund.
- Tillis said leadership forced two SAVE Act votes that had no chance of passage and argued those floor fights hurt in-cycle members by creating material political risk before the midterms.
- He described the GOP as a "circular firing squad," said a supermajority of Republicans blocked his amendment to eliminate the $1.776 billion payout and redirect $1.7 billion to fraud prevention, and asked why colleagues would protect the program.
- Tillis singled out Sen. Tommy Tuberville and questioned intraparty coordination, while Tuberville’s office confirmed the letter’s authenticity and said he stands by his earlier public criticisms.
- The dispute raises fresh doubts about Republican unity as the reconciliation bill moves forward and faces an uncertain whip count in the House, with the party now weighing political trade-offs ahead of November.