Trump Demands End to Filibuster to Resolve Government Shutdown/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump is urging Senate Republicans to eliminate the filibuster and force through legislation to end the ongoing government shutdown. The shutdown, now entering its second month, threatens key programs like SNAP and federal health subsidies. Democratic leaders and advocacy groups warn of severe economic and humanitarian consequences if no agreement is reached.
Quick Look: Shutdown, Filibuster, and Political Fallout
- Trump calls for Senate to use “nuclear option” to end filibuster.
- Shutdown began Oct. 1 due to lack of agreement on funding bills.
- Trump criticizes Senate rules that let Democrats block GOP bills.
- SNAP food aid set to expire Nov. 1 for 41 million Americans.
- Health insurance premiums rise as federal subsidies remain uncertain.
- Speaker Mike Johnson and Trump previously backed large cuts to SNAP.
- Religious leaders condemn the shutdown’s impact on the poor.
- Lawmakers unlikely to resolve standoff before upcoming state elections.
- Shutdown could soon surpass 2019’s record 35-day lapse.
- Democrats demand continuation of food and health programs before compromise.
Trump Calls to End Senate Filibuster as Government Shutdown Threatens Food Aid, Healthcare
A Deep Look
President Donald Trump has escalated pressure on Senate Republicans to end the month-long government shutdown by calling for the elimination of the filibuster—a long-standing Senate rule requiring 60 votes to pass most legislation. The move would allow Republicans, who hold a slim 53-seat majority, to pass a funding bill without any Democratic support and reopen key parts of the federal government.
“THE CHOICE IS CLEAR — INITIATE THE ‘NUCLEAR OPTION,’ GET RID OF THE FILIBUSTER,” Trump wrote Thursday night on Truth Social, his social media platform, as he returned from a high-profile trip to Asia.
Trump’s remarks come just two days before tens of millions of Americans are expected to feel the direct impacts of the shutdown, including the cutoff of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and a spike in health care costs. Critics say the consequences are spiraling into a national crisis, one made worse by political deadlock and policy clashes.
The Shutdown: Now in Day 30 and Deepening
The shutdown, which began on October 1, has already affected key federal services. SNAP, which serves roughly 41 million low-income Americans, is slated to stop issuing benefits as of November 1 unless Congress acts. Meanwhile, Americans who buy health insurance through federal and state marketplaces are facing skyrocketing premiums due to lapsed federal subsidies.
In rural Alaska, residents are stockpiling moose and caribou meat. In Maine, people are struggling to pay for home heating oil as colder weather sets in. Delays at airports are building ahead of holiday travel, while federal workers remain furloughed and unpaid.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) described the situation as “dire,” particularly for families who rely on government food aid.
“We are well past time to have this behind us,” Murkowski said.
The Filibuster Debate: A “Nuclear” Showdown
Trump’s call to invoke the “nuclear option” would involve changing Senate rules to allow a simple majority to pass legislation—effectively ending the filibuster. This would represent a monumental shift in how the Senate functions and would likely reshape legislative dynamics for years to come.
Currently, the filibuster allows Democrats to block funding bills despite the GOP’s narrow majority.
Trump argues that the tool is allowing a minority to “shut down the government and starve Americans.”
He added that during his overseas trip to Malaysia, Japan, and China, foreign leaders repeatedly asked him why Republicans allowed Democrats to shut down their own government.
Food Aid and Health Care at Risk
Perhaps most pressing is the threat to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which was already cut earlier this year by legislation signed by Trump himself. The $1.5 trillion tax and spending bill included the largest SNAP reduction in U.S. history—slashing nearly $186 billion in funding and tightening work requirements.
“We are holding food over the heads of poor people so that we can take away their health care,” said Rev. Ryan Stoess during a Capitol Hill prayer vigil. “God help us, when cruelty is the point.”
At the same time, Americans are being hit with rising health insurance costs. Open enrollment begins this weekend, but many are finding that federal subsidies meant to lower premiums have either expired or are no longer guaranteed. Some policies have spiked by as much as 25–30%, making coverage unaffordable for working-class families.
Behind Closed Doors: Political Stalemate and Delayed Action
Despite mounting pressure, the House of Representatives remains closed under the leadership of Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), a vocal proponent of work requirements for aid recipients and major cuts to social safety nets. The Senate is expected to leave for a long weekend, and with elections taking place Tuesday in several states, real negotiations may not resume until midweek.
The longer the stalemate continues, the more likely the current shutdown will surpass the 35-day lapse that occurred in 2019—also under Trump—over border wall funding.
Who’s Affected Most?
SNAP Recipients
- Over 40 million Americans risk losing benefits.
- Majority are families with children, elderly, and disabled individuals.
- Work requirements have been expanded, even for older adults and parents of school-age children.
Health Care Consumers
- Premiums rising due to expired federal subsidies.
- Medicaid recipients face work mandates under new GOP rules.
Federal Workers
- Tens of thousands furloughed or working without pay.
- Essential services, including TSA and air traffic control, are strained.
Local Economies
- Over 100,000 merchants rely on SNAP spending in low-income communities.
- Many face economic hardship just ahead of Thanksgiving.
Republican Position: Cuts and Fiscal Conservatism
Republicans argue the spending cuts are necessary to rein in federal deficits. Speaker Johnson and others have defended the new work requirements and described the current food aid structure as a “gravy train” abused by “able-bodied” adults unwilling to work.
“What we’re talking about, again, is able-bodied workers, many of whom are refusing to work because they’re gaming the system,” Johnson said in a previous CBS interview.
But critics, including Democratic leaders, say the cuts are extreme and punitive. They argue that vulnerable populations are being sacrificed to achieve ideological goals.
Democratic Pushback
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) blasted Republicans for hypocrisy.
“They enacted the largest cut to nutritional assistance in American history and now want to blame Democrats for the shutdown,” Jeffries said. “We’re trying to lift up the quality of life for the American people.”
Democrats have refused to negotiate on food aid or health subsidies until the government is reopened. They claim any agreement made under duress would be both morally and politically irresponsible.
What’s Next?
With no immediate resolution in sight and the Senate filibuster still intact, the shutdown is poised to continue into November. Political analysts suggest that Tuesday’s elections may become a turning point—if the results shift momentum, either side may be more inclined to strike a deal.
But for now, the question remains whether Trump’s push to eliminate the filibuster will force the GOP’s hand—or further divide a fractured Congress.
Key Takeaways
- Trump urges end to Senate filibuster to break shutdown deadlock.
- SNAP and health subsidies are on the brink of collapse.
- Shutdown is now in Day 30 and could surpass the 2019 record.
- Senate and House leadership remain divided on how to move forward.
- Tuesday’s elections may trigger a shift in negotiation
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