Republicans refuse ‘nuclear option’ despite Democrat resistance to end shutdown

Senate Republicans aren’t able to go “nuclear” once more and alter the foundations across the Senate filibuster, whereas Senate Democrats are digging deeper towards Republican Occasion stress to reopen the federal government.

Senate Majority Chief John Thune, R-S.D., and Republicans want not less than eight Democrats to cross the aisle and vote for his or her persevering with decision (CR) to cross the 60-vote filibuster threshold within the Senate.

However solely three members of the Democratic caucus have joined Republicans after six failed makes an attempt to go the short-term funding extension because the shutdown enters its second week.

SENATE Democrats Defy White Home Warnings, Once more Block GOP Bid to Reopen Authorities

Senate Republicans aren’t able to go “nuclear” on the filibuster as the federal government shutdown continues, regardless of Senate Majority Chief John Thune, R-S.D., pushing earlier this yr to vary the foundations for nominees. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Photos)

Republicans have already turned to the “nuclear choice” to unilaterally change the foundations this yr and destroy Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and the Democrats’ blockade of President Donald Trump’s nominees. However for a lot of, the concept of ​​altering the foundations and destroying the filibuster is a 3rd rail.

“By no means, by no means, by no means, by no means, none,” Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., informed Fox Information Digital when requested if he would contemplate altering the foundations.

“I have not heard that because the Democrats tried it, and I believe we would all battle it fairly arduous,” he continued.

The final time the filibuster got here underneath scrutiny was when Democrats managed the Senate in 2022. Schumer, then majority chief, tried to vary the foundations for a “speaking filibuster” to go voting rights laws.

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Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer speaks on the U.S. Capitol following the Democratic Senate Coverage Luncheon on October 7, 2025, together with Senator Amy Klobuchar, as the federal government shutdown continues. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Photos)

Nevertheless, the trouble was thwarted when then-Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., joined Republicans in blocking the change. Each have since resigned from the Senate and turn into impartial.

Republicans usually are not actively discussing adjustments to the filibuster.

“I do not assume this can be a dialog we have had,” Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., informed Fox Information Digital. “Proper now, we expect the Democrats’ place has been untenable, and the extra they hear from their constituents about their unreasonable actions, that may break this as a result of we now have a clear CR, so we now have the higher argument.”

Due to the filibuster, spending payments like a CR are typically bipartisan in nature. Nevertheless, Senate Democrats have rejected Republicans’ invoice to reopen the federal government as partisan, claiming that they had no enter on it earlier than it handed the Home of Representatives late final month.

“I am typically conscious of the significance of attempting to maintain issues bipartisan, utilizing the filibuster as a software to do this, however I additionally perceive that the frustration simply boils over after some time,” Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., informed Fox Information Digital.

THE GOVERNMENT IS GOING DEEPER INTO THE CLOSURE CRISIS WITH NO DEAL IN SIGHT

Senator John Fetterman through the sixth episode of The Senate Challenge, moderated by FOX NEWS host Shannon Bream on the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for america Senate on June 2, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Scott Eisen/Getty Photos)

Frustrations reached new ranges in Congress on Wednesday, when Sens. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., and Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., publicly argued with Home Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., over the shutdown. Then there was one other viewers backwards and forwards between Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries, DN.Y., and Rep. Mike Lawler, RN.Y.

But neither celebration within the Higher Chamber is keen to desert their positions.

Most members of the Senate Democratic caucus are entrenched of their place that except they get a deal on the expiration of the Obamacare tax credit, they won’t be part of Republicans in reopening the federal government.

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Republicans are assured that negotiations on extending the subsidies – with reforms – can happen, however solely after the federal government reopens.

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., is the one Democrat within the Senate who has voted with Republicans each time to reopen the federal government. He identified that Republicans had simply modified Senate guidelines final month to advance Trump’s nominees.

“I believe we in all probability ought to. If you may get out of the filibuster and stop both celebration from making it rather a lot tougher to close down the federal government, I’d completely assist that,” Fetterman mentioned.