Former President Donald Trump has reignited political tensions in Washington by urging Senate Republicans to invoke the so-called “nuclear option” – a drastic move to eliminate the legislative filibuster – to swiftly pass a full-year funding bill and end the ongoing government shutdown.
In a fiery social media post, Trump declared, “The Shutdown must end now. Senate Republicans must go Nuclear and pass real, full-year Funding Bills to fully reopen our Government.” His message adds fresh urgency to an already volatile standoff that has left several federal agencies shuttered and thousands of workers without pay.
Trump’s demand builds on his longstanding criticism of congressional gridlock, especially when it comes to his policy priorities, such as stricter border enforcement and expanded tax relief. Yet his call to dismantle one of the Senate’s most enduring procedural safeguards has drawn swift opposition – not only from Democrats but also from within his own party.
The “nuclear option” refers to a parliamentary tactic that allows a simple majority to change Senate rules, effectively bypassing the 60-vote requirement to break a filibuster. While the approach has been used in the past for judicial nominations, extending it to regular legislation would represent a seismic shift in how the Senate operates.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) voiced strong reservations about Trump’s proposal, warning that the move could have “catastrophic, irreversible repercussions.” “While I share the urgency to end the Schumer shutdown,” Johnson said, “I remain opposed to eliminating the legislative filibuster. Doing so would destroy the balance and deliberation that define the Senate.”
Republican leaders in the Senate echoed that sentiment. Senator Joni Ernst, chair of the Republican Policy Committee, stated flatly, “We are not going to end the filibuster.” Senator John Barrasso, the Republican Conference Chair, added, “I’m for getting the government open, but I’m for keeping the filibuster.” Senior Senator Susan Collins warned, “It would be a terrible mistake. It would be the end of the Senate.”
Despite Trump’s pressure, the idea appears to have little traction in the upper chamber, where several senior Republicans have made it clear that they see the filibuster as essential to maintaining stability and bipartisanship in lawmaking.
The government remains in partial shutdown as negotiations continue between the Republican-led Senate and the Democrat-controlled House. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has blamed what he termed “MAGA Republican chaos” for the impasse, while GOP leaders accuse Democrats of refusing to compromise on spending priorities.
Historically, the Senate has modified filibuster rules only in limited contexts. In 2013, Democrats under then-Majority Leader Harry Reid eliminated the 60-vote threshold for most presidential nominations. Four years later, Republicans extended that change to include Supreme Court appointments. However, the 60-vote rule for legislation has endured – precisely to prevent the kind of partisan swings Trump now advocates.
As the shutdown drags on, Trump’s call has once again thrust the filibuster debate into the national spotlight. But with key members of his own party pushing back, the odds of a “nuclear” end to the Senate’s most defining rule remain slim – at least for now.
