Trump Urges Ending Filibuster Amid Government Shutdown

President Donald Trump urged Senate Republicans in Truth Social posts to use the “nuclear option” and eliminate the filibuster so his party could pass a funding bill and end the month-long government shutdown. The shutdown, which began Oct. 1, has furloughed or left unpaid thousands of federal workers, snarled air travel amid controller shortages and threatens benefits for millions, including roughly 40 million SNAP recipients. Democrats have repeatedly blocked the House-passed short-term funding bill under the filibuster while demanding an extension of health-care subsidies. Past Democratic attempts to overhaul the filibuster were stymied by Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema. Senate Republican leaders and several GOP senators, including John Thune and John Curtis, have rejected scrapping the filibuster, warning it would erode Senate norms even as White House pressure mounts. The clash underscores growing strains within the GOP and Washington and sets up either a forced rule change, a negotiated compromise, or a deeper partisan standoff over reopening the government.