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Trump pushes for filibuster elimination to break shutdown deadlock
Former President Donald Trump called on Senate Republicans to abolish the filibuster on Friday, framing the procedural move as the only way to end the month-long government shutdown that has disrupted federal services and left millions of Americans at risk of losing critical aid.
Filibuster rule under fire
The filibuster, a Senate tradition requiring 60 votes to advance most legislation, has become a focal point as the shutdown enters its 30th day. With Republicans holding a 53-47 majority, eliminating the rule would allow them to pass funding bills without Democratic support. Trump took to social media late Thursday, urging the party to deploy the so-called "nuclear option"-a reference to the procedural maneuver needed to override the filibuster-declaring, "Get rid of the Filibuster, and get rid of it, NOW."
He later added, "Well, now WE are in power, and if we did what we should be doing, it would IMMEDIATELY end this ridiculous, Country destroying 'SHUT DOWN.'"
Human toll mounts as shutdown drags on
The impasse, which began on 1 October, has already forced thousands of federal workers to miss paychecks, while air travel disruptions loom as unpaid air traffic controllers and TSA agents report to work. If the shutdown extends into the weekend, over 40 million low-income Americans could lose access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a federal food aid initiative.
Senate resistance and political risks
Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune has previously dismissed calls to alter the filibuster, reflecting broader GOP concerns that scrapping it could backfire if Democrats regain control of Congress. Both parties have historically defended the rule as a safeguard for minority rights, though exceptions have been carved out in recent years-most notably for judicial nominations, which now require only a simple majority.
During President Joe Biden's administration, some Democrats floated ending the filibuster to advance priorities like abortion rights and voting protections, but the idea failed to gain traction within the party. The current shutdown stems from a dispute over healthcare subsidies for low-income Americans, which Democrats tied to a stopgap funding measure. Republicans have accused Democrats of "holding the government hostage" over unrelated policy demands.
No resolution in sight
By Friday, most senators had departed Washington for the weekend, with no visible progress toward reopening the government. The path forward remains unclear, as it is uncertain whether Republicans have the internal support to invoke the nuclear option. The Senate has already adjourned until Monday, leaving federal workers and aid recipients in limbo.
