Trump calls on Republicans to scrap filibuster rule in shutdown standoff

October 31, 2025

President Trump is urging Senate Republicans to eliminate the filibuster rule, which requires 60 votes to pass most legislation, as a strategy to resolve the month-long government shutdown without Democratic cooperation. The ongoing shutdown, which started October 1st, threatens critical services including food assistance for over 40 million Americans and has already caused federal workers to miss paychecks. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has rejected this proposal, citing concerns shared by both parties that removing the filibuster would eliminate important protections for whichever party holds minority status.

Who is affected

Millions of Americans facing loss of essential services
More than 40 million people who could lose access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Thousands of federal workers who have missed paychecks
Air traffic controllers and airport staff working without pay
Low-income households dependent on food aid and healthcare subsidies
Senate Republicans and Democrats
President Donald Trump

What action is being taken

Federal workers are working without pay
Senators have left Washington for the weekend
The government shutdown is ongoing (entering its 30th day)

Why it matters

This situation matters because millions of Americans are at risk of losing critical services like food assistance and facing disruptions to air travel safety. The shutdown represents a significant constitutional and political standoff that could fundamentally alter how the Senate operates if the filibuster is eliminated, potentially removing a key protection that prevents the majority party from passing legislation without any minority input. The extended shutdown also demonstrates deep partisan divisions over budget priorities and policy issues like healthcare subsidies, with real consequences for vulnerable populations and government workers going without pay.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC