President Donald Trump is calling on the Senate to scrap the filibuster, so that the Republican majority can bypass Democrats and reopen the federal government.
“THE CHOICE IS CLEAR — INITIATE THE ‘NUCLEAR OPTION,’ GET RID OF THE FILIBUSTER,” Trump posted Thursday night on his social media site, Truth Social.
Trump’s call to terminate the filibuster could alter the ways the Senate and congressional dealmaking operate, with the president saying in his post that he gave a “great deal” of thought to the choice on his flight back from Asia on Thursday.
A filibuster is a tactic used in the U.S. Senate to delay or block action on a bill or nomination by extending debate or using procedural maneuvers. Unlike the House of Representatives, the Senate traditionally allows extended discussion, enabling senators to prevent a final vote; however, once cloture is invoked, debate is limited, typically to about 30 hours. To end a filibuster, the Senate must invoke cloture, which requires a three‑fifths majority, typically 60 out of 100 votes, for most legislation. This rule makes it difficult for the majority party to pass major bills without bipartisan support.
The “nuclear option,” precedent changes adopted in 2013 and 2017, lowered the cloture threshold to a simple majority for most presidential nominations, including executive and judicial appointments, though it does not apply to ordinary legislation. Some measures, such as budget reconciliation bills, follow special procedures that bypass the filibuster.
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The term “filibuster” comes from a Dutch word meaning “pirate,” symbolizing how senators can “hijack” debate to influence or block decisions.
The U.S. federal government has been in a shutdown since Oct. 1, 2025, after Congress failed to pass appropriations or a continuing resolution. This is one of the longest shutdowns in U.S. history.
Approximately 750,000 federal employees are affected, with many furloughed while essential workers, such as military personnel, TSA, and air traffic controllers, remain on the job without pay. Federal agencies are operating with minimal “excepted” staff, and nonessential services are paused.
Programs like SNAP and WIC are funded through mandatory spending but face potential disruption if the shutdown continues. The stalemate arises from disputes over healthcare subsidies, Medicaid, policy riders, and overall spending. The House passed a funding bill, but the Senate has struggled to reach the votes required to advance it.
Economically, the shutdown slows growth, strains public services, and threatens the financial stability of federal workers and contractors, with total losses estimated at $7–14 billion.
From coast to coast, fallout from the dysfunction of a shuttered federal government is hitting home: Alaskans are stockpiling moose, caribou and fish for winter, even before SNAP food aid is scheduled to shut off. Mainers are filling up their home-heating oil tanks, but waiting on the federal subsidies that are nowhere in sight.
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“We are holding food over the heads of poor people so that we can take away their health care,” said Rev. Ryan Stoess, during a prayer with religious leaders at the U.S. Capitol.
“God help us,” he said, “when the cruelty is the point.”
With hundreds of thousands of federal employees furloughed or working without pay, and essential services operating under strain, the human and economic costs are mounting. Programs designed to support vulnerable populations, such as SNAP and WIC, face potential disruptions, leaving citizens to take extraordinary measures to prepare for basic needs.
Calls to eliminate or circumvent the filibuster, including public statements from political leaders, reflect growing frustration with legislative gridlock and underscore how procedural rules can shape policy outcomes.
The standoff over spending, healthcare, and policy priorities illustrates the challenges of governing in a polarized environment. As the shutdown continues, it serves as a stark reminder of the real-world consequences of political stalemate, affecting not only federal operations but also the daily lives of millions of Americans.