Congress

Trump urges Republicans to kill the filibuster

Published

5 months ago

October 31, 2025

President Donald Trump on Thursday night urged the GOP to eliminate the filibuster and end a monthlong government shutdown and standoff between Republicans and Democrats.

“Get rid of the Filibuster, and get rid of it, NOW!'” Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social.

In a separate post, he wrote, “THE CHOICE IS CLEAR — INITIATE THE “NUCLEAR OPTION,” GET RID OF THE FILIBUSTER AND, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

The filibuster is a long-standing Senate rule that allows the minority to delay or block legislation by extending debate, effectively requiring 60 votes to advance most bills. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican and staunch institutionalist, has previously ruled out eliminating or weakening the 60-vote threshold, describing it as a “bulwark against a lot of really bad things.”

As the government shutdown enters its 30th day, there is no obvious end in sight, though Republicans and Democrats have both signaled openness to a solution.

Trump said he had “thought a great deal” about the impasse while flying back to Washington from Asia. “If we did what we should be doing, it would IMMEDIATELY end this ridiculous, Country destroying ‘SHUT DOWN,’” he said, adding Democrats would scrap the filibuster if they got the chance.

Some Democrats under former President Joe Biden, such as Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, indeed called for changes to filibuster rules to make it harder to block or stall legislation, and others called for carve-outs on voting and reproductive rights bills.

While both parties have chipped away at the filibuster over the years, Trump’s demand to kill it would be unprecedented and require a simple majority of 51 votes. But though some Senate Republicans have said they’re open to it, a few haven’t, and there’s only 53 of them, so Trump might not have the votes for his “nuclear option.”

North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis said last week the “filibuster is not going away this Congress … I think Republicans have made that very clear.” Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Texas Sen. John Cornyn and Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford also voiced their opposition to nixing the rule.

The Senate Republicans who have warmed to the idea of overturning the filibuster to reopen the government as the shutdown drags on include Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who said it was “probably a viable option,” and Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley, who said, “My thought is that I’m not willing to see children in my state go hungry … over some Senate procedure.”

This is not Trump’s first time calling for the filibuster to be axed. He called the rule a “joke” during his first term in 2017, tweeting that it was “killing” the GOP and “allows 8 Dems to control [the] country.” And, again in 2018, he urged Republicans to use the “Nuclear Option to pass tough laws NOW.”

With the Senate is not scheduled to return to Washington until Monday evening, the government shutdown is approaching the record for the longest ever: 35 days.

Congress

GOP senators see path to ending DHS shutdown after Trump meeting

Published

6 hours ago

March 24, 2026

Blue Light Newsroom

A group of Senate Republicans believe they’ve found a path to ending the five-week Department of Homeland Security shutdown after meeting Monday with President Donald Trump.

Asked after the White House meeting if they had a solution after meeting with Trump, Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama told reporters, “We do.”

Britt and Sens. Bernie Moreno of Ohio, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Steve Daines of Montana met with Trump to try to pitch to accept an agreement that would fund most of DHS.

Their pitch, according to two people with knowledge of it, was to pass a funding bill that would fund all of DHS except specific parts of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which is already funded under last year’s GOP megabill.

Graham told colleagues on the Senate floor after the meeting that the president is now open to a new party-line reconciliation bill after rejecting the idea over the weekend, Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) said. That could give Republicans a path to pass more ICE funding — if they can muster the votes.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. And Republicans cautioned that nothing is official until Trump backs it publicly.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said “hope so” when asked Monday night whether a deal was in hand.

Proceeding with the arrangement with Trump’s support would represent a U-turn from just 24 hours ago for the president, who insisted Sunday that DHS could be only funded if Democrats agreed to pass a partisan GOP elections bill, the SAVE America Act, alongside it.

Democrats in both chambers have pressed Republicans multiple times to take up their bills that would fund all of DHS except ICE, Customs and Border Protection and the secretary’s office. Republicans have rejected the efforts each time.

Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.), a senior appropriator, said there are “various options” for funding the department but is “hopeful” a solution was within grasp.

“Republicans have put a lot on the table, and hopefully the Democrats will agree,” he said.

Congress

GOP senators meet with Trump on DHS

Published

8 hours ago

March 23, 2026

Blue Light Newsroom

Four Senate Republicans are meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House to discuss funding the Department of Homeland Security, which has been shuttered for more than a month amid a standoff with Democrats over the administration’s immigration enforcement agenda.

GOP lawmakers attending the Monday night meeting, according to a person granted anonymity to share details of a private confab, are Sens. Katie Britt of Alabama, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Bernie Moreno of Ohio and Steve Daines of Montana.

Britt is the chair of the appropriations subcommittee with oversight over DHS and has been helping lead negotiations to reopen the agency — though Trump warned Sunday night a deal should not be brokered until Democrats agree to help Republicans pass a partisan elections bill known as the SAVE America Act.

Congress

No DHS talks expected until Mullin is confirmed, White House official says

Published

11 hours ago

March 23, 2026

Blue Light Newsroom

The White House is holding off on further DHS funding negotiations until the Senate confirms Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin to lead the agency, according to a White House official, granted anonymity to share internal thinking.

Democrats have previously canceled meetings, and given Mullin is close to confirmation, the official said, aides to President Donald Trump believe it’s better to wait so he can be a “full and active” participant in funding talks from the DHS side.

The White House earlier in the day rejected a Monday morning meetingwith a bipartisan group of senators who have been negotiating to end the DHS shutdown. Democrats had previously canceled a Saturday meeting.

The Senate is scheduled to vote on Mullin’s confirmation shortly before 8 p.m. Monday.

Some Senate Republicans are aiming to meet with Trump on Monday night to discuss the DHS funding situation, although no meeting has been officially scheduled.

The meeting, according to two people with knowledge of the matter, would be to try to pitch Trump on a plan to fund all of DHS except specific pieces of ICE, which have already been funded through last year’s megabill.

Trump was in Memphis, Tenn., earlier in the day, attending an anti-crime event and paying a visit to Graceland, Elvis Presley’s former home.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he expected additional meetings Monday but declined to say who was involved: “Conversations continue,” he said.

Meredith Lee Hill contributed to this report.