Overview
- In late‑night Truth Social posts, President Trump called for the “nuclear option” to abolish the filibuster so a funding bill could pass with a simple majority.
- Republicans hold 53 Senate seats, short of the 60 votes needed to advance legislation under current rules, and GOP leaders including John Thune have opposed changing the rule.
- Democrats have blocked short‑term funding bills and are pressing for an extension of Affordable Care Act premium subsidies and reversal of planned Medicaid cuts.
- Roughly 750,000 federal workers have been furloughed and the Congressional Budget Office estimates a $7–$14 billion hit to the economy, with pressure mounting over SNAP benefits and air‑traffic staffing.
- Some Republicans voiced openness to scrapping the filibuster, though votes appear uncertain and prior Democratic efforts to weaken the rule failed after resistance from Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema.