The U.S. Senate returned to session as the nation entered the 37th day of the longest government shutdown in its history. Behind the scenes, tensions are running high as former President Donald Trump pushes Republican leaders to take a drastic step: eliminate the Senate filibuster entirely.
According to Politico, Senate Majority Leader John Thune is in talks with Democrats on a temporary measure that would fund certain government operations through next January. However, the plan still needs 60 votes to pass — a threshold Trump now wants to scrap.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump urged lawmakers to act. “It’s time to end the filibuster and get everyone back to work,” he said. “Pass voter ID, stop mail-in voting except for the military, one-day voting, secure the borders, fix immigration — we could do it all ourselves.”
The president’s remarks followed a tense breakfast with Republican senators at the White House, during which he reportedly sparred with Sen. Lindsey Graham. “Lindsey, you and I both know reconciliation only gets you so far,” Trump reportedly said, warning that the GOP was on the verge of becoming “a dead party” if it didn’t embrace bold change.
On Capitol Hill, the atmosphere is charged. Thune continues to defend the filibuster, calling it a safeguard against “legislative chaos,” while Trump’s allies argue that it’s an outdated obstacle preventing real progress.
Democrats, meanwhile, are weighing their options — possibly backing a limited funding measure in return for a later vote on healthcare subsidies. Such a compromise could reopen the government but might also deepen internal party rifts.
With federal employees still unpaid and public frustration mounting, Trump’s message remains firm: “End it now, or we’ll never fix America.”
He also warned Republicans of what Democrats might do if they regained full control: “They’ll make Puerto Rico and D.C. states. They’ll pack the Supreme Court. It’s guaranteed.”
Whether this latest confrontation will lead to a breakthrough or plunge Washington into deeper turmoil is uncertain — but one thing is clear: the Senate has rarely faced pressure like this before.
