Former U.S. President Donald Trump has urged Senate Republicans to eliminate the 60-vote threshold required to advance legislation, calling it the “Nuclear Option” as the United States federal shutdown stretches into another month.
Trump made the statement Thursday night on his Truth Social platform, claiming that scrapping the rule would immediately end the government shutdown, which began on October 1 and has disrupted several federal services.
“It is now time for the Republicans to play their TRUMP CARD and get rid of the filibuster,” Trump wrote. “If we did what we should be doing, it would immediately end this ridiculous, country-destroying shutdown.”
The shutdown has left thousands of federal workers without pay, stalled air traffic, and closed national parks. Food stamp benefits for over 42 million Americans are also at risk, with millions of recipients residing in states that supported Trump during the last election.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates the ongoing shutdown could cost the U.S. economy up to $14 billion.
While Trump previously pushed unsuccessfully to end the filibuster during his first term, the proposal remains controversial as both parties have historically relied on the rule to check legislative power.
