Washington, D.C. — Former President Donald Trump escalated his criticisms of Congress this week, calling the ongoing federal government shutdown the “final straw” and demanding urgent action to reopen government operations.
Posting on his social-media platform, Truth Social, Trump said the Senate must scrap the familiar filibuster rule—arguing that it is preventing Republicans from passing a clean funding measure to end the shutdown.
“THE CHOICE IS CLEAR – INITIATE the ‘NUCLEAR OPTION,’ GET RID OF THE FILIBUSTER,” Trump wrote.
Stalemate & Escalation
The shutdown began October 1, 2025, after the House passed a series of short-term funding resolutions the Senate rejected.With agencies shuttered and hundreds of thousands of federal employees furloughed or working without pay, pressure is mounting.
Trump, returning from a trip abroad, said foreign leaders asked why U.S. Republicans “let Democrats halt government operations” and added that if the impasse continues, it risks being the longest shutdown in U.S. history.
Trump’s Strategic Pivot
In his message, Trump portrayed the shutdown not simply as a budget fight but as an opportunity: he indicated that the crisis could be used to reshape federal operations, streamline agencies, and eliminate “waste and fraud.”
By demanding elimination of the filibuster, Trump signalled a willingness to force a showdown in the Senate—a move that could upend decades of legislative procedure if Republicans follow through.
Political Fallout
• Democratic leaders immediately rejected Trump’s remarks, arguing that the shutdown was being used as leverage at the expense of federal employees and vital services.
• Some Republicans privately worry about the optics of a shutdown stretching into the holiday season and its potential cost to their political standing.
• For workers on furlough, the shutdown is no longer an abstract mound of legislative blame—it has become personal and urgent.
What’s at Stake
• Approximately 900,000 federal employees have been furloughed or are working without pay.
• Critical services—from food aid programs to scientific research—are disrupted or paused.
• The longer the shutdown continues, the higher the risks of long-term economic, social and political damage—not just for the government but for citizens and workers.
What Comes Next
Trump has laid down a clear marker: the status quo is unacceptable and action must be taken. Whether Republicans follow his lead by attempting to abolish or weaken the filibuster remains to be seen. The next moves from Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson will likely determine if this standoff ends or deepens.
The shutdown may also impact upcoming elections and could shift public blame toward whichever party is perceived as obstructionist. Polls before the shutdown indicated that many voters assigned blame to Democrats—but extended standoffs risk tilting that balance.
Key Takeaway
Trump’s declaration of a “final straw” moment signals a heightened urgency in the shutdown fight. Whether it leads to resolution — or an even sharper escalation — depends now on whether the legislative process itself becomes the battleground.
