President Donald Trump has intensified his call for Senate Republicans to eliminate the filibuster rule, aiming to resolve the prolonged government shutdown, now in its 30th day. The filibuster, a longstanding Senate procedure, mandates a 60-vote supermajority for most legislative actions. With Republicans holding a 53-47 majority, abolishing the rule would enable them to pass a funding bill without Democratic backing. Trump took to social media, urging his party to deploy the ‘Nuclear Option’ and immediately discard the filibuster. The shutdown, initiated on October 1, has disrupted essential services for millions, with over 40 million low-income households at risk of losing access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Federal workers have missed paychecks, and concerns are mounting over potential flight delays as air traffic controllers and airport staff continue working without pay. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has previously opposed altering the filibuster, citing its role as a safeguard for minority rights. Despite Trump’s push, most senators have left Washington for the weekend, with no clear progress toward reopening the government. The ‘nuclear option’ remains uncertain, as many Republicans fear its long-term consequences if Democrats regain control. The shutdown ensued after Democrats rejected a stopgap funding measure unless Republicans extended healthcare subsidies for low-income Americans, a demand Republicans dismissed as unrelated policy leverage.
Trump calls on Republicans to scrap filibuster rule in shutdown standoff
