Overview
- Posting on Truth Social, the president pressed Republicans to use the “nuclear option” to end the Senate filibuster and force a funding vote.
- A rules change would have to be approved by the Senate majority, and many senators are wary of weakening minority protections.
- Republicans control 53 Senate seats, but most bills still require 60 votes to end debate, leaving a stopgap bill stalled without Democratic support.
- With SNAP funding at risk around November 1, a federal judge directed the government to maintain benefits and to present a plan by Monday after Democratic-led states sought use of a $5 billion emergency fund.
- The shutdown has furloughed roughly 750,000 federal workers and the CBO estimates $7–$14 billion in permanent economic losses, with many employees working unpaid or seeking stopgap income.