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President Donald Trump on Thursday called for the Senate to eliminate the filibuster, demanding that Republicans invoke the so-called “nuclear option” to end a 30-day government shutdown that has stalled funding for federal services and furloughed hundreds of thousands of workers.
“It is now time for the Republicans to play their ‘TRUMP CARD,’ and go for what is called the Nuclear Option — Get rid of the Filibuster, and get rid of it, NOW,” Trump wrote on his social media platform, renewing a long-standing complaint that the rule hampers his agenda.
The filibuster, a procedural rule requiring 60 votes to pass most legislation, has often been a source of frustration for presidents facing partisan gridlock. Republicans currently hold a 53–47 majority in the Senate and a 219–213 majority in the House, leaving them short of the supermajority needed to advance most bills without Democratic support.
Stalemate over government funding
The shutdown began October 1, the start of the 2026 fiscal year, after Congress failed to reach a compromise on spending legislation. The deadlock has halted paychecks for about 750,000 federal employees, many of whom have been furloughed or are working without pay in essential roles.
The Trump administration has authorized payments for military personnel, federal law enforcement, and immigration officers, but most civilian agencies remain shuttered.
Senate Republicans this week proposed a short-term stopgap bill to fund the government through November 21, while Democrats have demanded negotiations to extend federal tax credits that help Americans purchase health insurance under the Affordable Care Act.
“There was no end in sight,” one GOP aide said, describing the mood in the chamber as “grim.”
Economic toll mounts
The Congressional Budget Office warned Wednesday that the shutdown could cost the economy $7 billion to $14 billion and shave up to 2% off fourth-quarter GDP, citing lost output and delayed federal spending.
Trump appeared to acknowledge the growing pressure in his post, writing: “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.’”
Political pressure mounts on Capitol Hill
Senate Majority Leader John Thune has not endorsed Trump’s call to eliminate the filibuster, which many lawmakers in both parties see as a key safeguard for minority rights in the chamber. Democrats, led by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, have accused the president of trying to “bulldoze” constitutional norms to force his spending priorities.
The last major debate over ending the filibuster came in 2017, when Republicans invoked the nuclear option to confirm Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch with a simple majority. Extending that move to legislation would represent a historic shift in Senate procedure.
As negotiations drag on, the White House faces growing pressure from business leaders, federal unions and state officials to end the impasse.
