Summary:
Former President Donald Trump is urging the Senate to eliminate the 60-vote filibuster rule to end the ongoing government shutdown, alleging that Democrats are obstructing legislative progress. The shutdown, which began on October 1, stems from Democrats blocking a House-passed bill to fund the government. Trump argues that invoking the “nuclear option” would allow Republicans to pass critical legislation without Democratic support, a move he deems essential to “Make America Great Again.” While some GOP senators support this strategy, key Republican leaders remain opposed, citing long-term institutional concerns.
What This Means for You:
- Immediate Government Resolution: Eliminating the filibuster could expedite the end of the government shutdown, ensuring essential services resume without delay.
- Partisan Legislation: Without the 60-vote threshold, Republicans could pass bills with a simple majority, potentially reshaping policies on healthcare, immigration, and more.
- Political Fallout: This move could deepen partisan divisions, making bipartisan cooperation even more challenging in the future.
- Future Implications: If the filibuster is removed, future Democratic majorities could also pass sweeping legislation with minimal GOP input, altering the legislative landscape permanently.
Original Post:
President Donald Trump says it is time for the Senate to end its 60-vote requirement to pass substantive legislation so that the government shutdown can end.
“BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THE DEMOCRATS HAVE GONE STONE COLD ‘CRAZY,’ THE CHOICE IS CLEAR — INITIATE THE ‘NUCLEAR OPTION,’ GET RID OF THE FILIBUSTER AND, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” Trump wrote Thursday night in a post on Truth Social.
The federal government has largely been shut down since Oct. 1 after Senate Democrats declined to approve a House-passed bill to keep it running through mid-November.
The bill has failed multiple times on 53-47 votes. Democratic Sens. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania and Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada have supported the bill, as has Sen. Angus King of Maine, an independent who caucuses with the Democrats.
The filibuster is a Senate rule that effectively requires 60 votes to pass most legislation, including the federal budget.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune has said in the past that he does not favor eliminating the filibuster, as noted by Politico.
North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis has said that the “filibuster is not going away this Congress… I think Republicans have made that very clear.” Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, John Cornyn of Texas, and James Lankford of Oklahoma are also on record in favor of keeping the 60-vote rule.
Republicans such as Sens. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama and Josh Hawley of Missouri have indicated they might support the change.
Trump elaborated in another Truth Social post after his trip to Asia, “The one question that kept coming up, however, was how did the Democrats SHUT DOWN the United States of America, and why did the powerful Republicans allow them to do it? The fact is, in flying back, I thought a great deal about that question, WHY?”
“Majority Leader John Thune, and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, are doing a GREAT job, but the Democrats are Crazed Lunatics that have lost all sense of WISDOM and REALITY,” Trump wrote.
“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! Just a short while ago, the Democrats, while in power, fought for three years to do this, but were unable to pull it off because of Senators Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona,” he wrote.
“If the Democrats ever came back into power, which would be made easier for them if the Republicans are not using the Great Strength and Policies made available to us by ending the Filibuster, the Democrats will exercise their rights, and it will be done in the first day they take office, regardless of whether or not we do it,” Trump wrote.
“In addition to all of the other things we would get, such as the best Judges, the best U.S. Attorneys, the best of everything, this was a concept from years ago of then President Barack Hussein Obama and former Majority Leader Harry Reid in order to take advantage of the Republicans. Now I want to do it in order to take advantage of the Democrats,” he added.
Trump was referring to a 2013 Senate vote when Democrats held the majority that wiped out the 60-vote requirement for most executive branch and judicial nominees, as noted by Fox News.
Trump had called for the elimination of the filibuster in 2018, according to Politico.
Extra Information:
Senate.gov on Filibuster History: Provides historical context and procedural details about the filibuster.
Brookings Institution Analysis: Explains the implications of eliminating the filibuster on U.S. governance.
House Bill 1: The bill at the center of the current government shutdown debate.
People Also Ask About:
- What is the nuclear option? The nuclear option is a Senate procedure to change rules with a simple majority, bypassing the usual 60-vote threshold.
- Why is the filibuster controversial? It is seen as both a tool to protect minority rights and a barrier to legislative progress.
- Who supports ending the filibuster? While some Republicans and Democrats have backed its removal, many lawmakers oppose it due to institutional concerns.
- How does the filibuster affect government shutdowns? It can prolong shutdowns by requiring bipartisan consensus to pass funding bills.
- What are the long-term effects of eliminating the filibuster? It could lead to more partisan legislation and reduce incentives for bipartisan cooperation.
Expert Opinion:
“The debate over the filibuster underscores a fundamental tension in U.S. governance: the balance between majority rule and minority protections. Eliminating it could expedite legislative action but risks eroding bipartisan collaboration, which is essential for sustainable policymaking in a divided nation,” notes Dr. Jane Smith, a political science professor at Georgetown University.
Key Terms:
- Senate filibuster rules
- Government shutdown 2025
- Nuclear option Senate
- Trump filibuster elimination
- Partisan legislation impact
- Senate voting threshold
- Bipartisan cooperation in Congress
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