Filibuster Fatigue: Amid Shutdown, Trump Calls for End of Senate Hurdle

President Donald Trump on social media Thursday night called for an end to the filibuster, a longtime procedural hurdle that prevents legislation from passing the Senate with the approval of a simple majority of senators.

“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 declared last night in a Truth Social post.

The president explained that on his trip throughout Asia, some foreign leaders were puzzled by the inability of the U.S. to come to an agreement to fund the federal government.

“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?” Trump wrote on the social media platform.

The president’s post came as the government shutdown approaches a full month without any immediate end in sight. It has led to thousands of federal workers being furloughed and essential federal workers, including members of the military, having to work with the uncertainty of when they will next be paid.

That uncertainty has led in recent weeks to thousands of flights being delayed due to air traffic controller shortages and the delay of air traffic control technology upgrades agreed upon in the One Big, Beautiful Bill. 

Some members of both parties have been apprehensive of jettisoning the filibuster for fear of what the reaction would be from the opposition once they inevitably lose majority control. During the Biden administration, Sens. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and Joe Manchin of West Virginia resisted calls from Democrats to fully end the filibuster.

In recent years, changes have been made to the extent of the filibuster. In 2013, then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., scrapping the 60-vote threshold requirement for the president’s Cabinet nominees and federal judicial nominations, though not for the Supreme Court. During Trump’s first term, then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., followed suit by ending the 60-vote requirement for Supreme Court nominees.

Trump articulated some of the Republican concerns in his post: “[Democrats] want to substantially expand (PACK!) the United States Supreme Court; make Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico States (Thereby automatically picking up 4 Senate seats, many House seats, and at least 8 Electoral Votes!), and many other highly destructive things.”

The president then argued that it was only a matter of time before the Democrats axed the Senate procedural hurdle themselves.

“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 said, adding, “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.”

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