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Donald Trump has called for Republicans to scrap the filibuster to end the ongoing government shutdown, which began on October 1.
The filibuster is a rule in the U.S. Senate that allows senators to delay or block a vote on a bill by extending debate and preventing it from reaching a final vote.
As it takes at least 41 senators to oppose a bill, it gives power to the minority party and can only be ended when 60 senators agree through a process called cloture.
- Donald Trump urges Republicans to end the Senate filibuster to quickly stop the ongoing government shutdown.
- The filibuster requires 60 senators to end debate, giving the minority party power to block legislation.
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune opposes removing the filibuster, calling it a safeguard against bad outcomes.
- Some GOP senators, like Tommy Tuberville, are now open to scrapping the filibuster despite earlier opposition.
Donald Trump has called on Republicans to end the filibuster
Image credits: Alex Wong/Getty Images
Senate Majority Leader John Thune has so far been against eliminating the filibuster, describing it as “a bulwark against a lot of really bad things” earlier this month.
As he returned from his Asia trip on Thursday, Trump took to his social media platform Truth Social to urge the GOP to initiate the “nuclear option.”
“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 wrote.
He added: “WE are in power, and if we did what we should be doing, it would IMMEDIATELY end this ridiculous, Country destroying ‘SHUT DOWN.’”
“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 on the first day they take office, regardless of whether or not we do it.”
Image credits: Donald J Trump
Some GOP senators appear open to the idea, with Sen. Tommy Tuberville saying last week that it was “probably a viable option,” The Hill reported.
In November last year, when the Republicans won the Senate, Tuberville told NBC News, “We need to keep the filibuster.”
It would take 51 votes to eliminate the filibuster, and there are 53 Republicans, but it is not clear if enough would support the move, with some previously having voiced opposition.
Trump’s demand comes as the government inches closer to surpassing the record for the longest shutdown in U.S. history.
The current record is 35 days during Trump’s first presidency between December 2018 and January 2019, relating to Trump’s demand for billions in funding to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Image credits: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Lawmakers are not expected to return to Washington until Monday evening, which will mark the 34th day of the shutdown.
Before Monday’s return, millions of Americans could lose access to a vital food assistance program after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said it does not have enough cash to fund SNAP benefits in November.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, provides monthly benefits to more than 40 million low-income Americans to help them buy groceries.
Funding for the program depends on congressional approval of government spending, meaning that without a new budget or stopgap measure, payments could be delayed or suspended.
Some Democrats have argued that the USDA could cover November’s benefits by using its multi-billion-dollar contingency fund, but the agency says it will not tap those funds, citing legal restrictions that prevent using the reserve to pay regular benefits during a government shutdown.
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