Republicans refuse “nuclear option” despite Democrats’ resistance to ending confinement

Senate Republicans are not ready to go “nuclear” to change the rules around the Senate filibuster as Senate Democrats further oppose the GOP’s efforts to reopen the government.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and Republicans need at least eight Democrats to reach across the aisle and vote for their continuing resolution (CR) to clear the Senate filibuster threshold of 60 votes.

But only three members of the Democratic caucus joined Republicans after six failed attempts to pass the short-term funding extension as the shutdown enters its second week.

SENA DEMOCRATS DEFY WHITE HOUSE WARNINGS, AGAIN BLOCKING GOP BID TO REOPEN GOVERNMENT

Senate Republicans are not ready to take a “nuclear” approach to the filibuster as the government shutdown continues, despite Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., pushing to change the nomination rules earlier this year. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Republicans have already turned to the “nuclear option” to unilaterally change the rules this year to blow up Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Democrats’ blockade of President Donald Trump’s nominees. But for many, the idea of ​​changing the rules and neutralizing the filibuster is a third way.

“Never, ever, ever, ever, none,” Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., told Fox News Digital when asked if he would consider changing the rules.

“I haven’t heard that since the Democrats tried to do it, and I think we’ll all fight pretty hard,” he continued.

The last time the filibuster came under scrutiny was when Democrats controlled the Senate in 2022. Schumer, who was majority leader at the time, attempted to change the rules of a “talking filibuster” in order to pass voting rights legislation.

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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer speaks at the U.S. Capitol after the Democratic Senate Policy Luncheon Oct. 7, 2025, alongside Sen. Amy Klobuchar, as the government shutdown continues. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

However, the effort was thwarted when then-Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., joined Republicans in blocking the change. Both have since retired from the Senate and become independents.

Republicans are not actively discussing changes to the filibuster.

“I don’t think it’s a conversation we’ve had,” Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., told Fox News Digital. “Right now, we think the Democrats’ position is untenable, and the more they hear about their unreasonable activities from their constituents, it will break this situation because we got a clear CR, so we have the best argument.”

Due to the filibuster, spending bills like a CR are typically bipartisan in nature. However, Senate Democrats criticized Republicans’ bill to reopen the government, calling it partisan and saying they had no input into it before it passed the House late last month.

“I’m generally aware of the importance of trying to keep things bipartisan, using the filibuster as a tool to do that, but I also understand the fact that after a while frustration boils over,” Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., told Fox News Digital.

GOVERNMENT ENTERS DEEPER INTO CLOSURE CRISIS WITH NO DEAL IN SIGHT

Senator John Fetterman during the sixth installment of the Senate Project hosted by FOX NEWS anchor Shannon Bream at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate on June 2, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Scott Eisen/Getty Images)

Frustrations reached a new level in Congress on Wednesday, with Sens. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., and Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., publicly arguing with House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., over the shutdown. Then there was another public exchange between House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y.

Yet neither side in the Upper House is ready to change their position.

Most members of the Senate Democratic caucus are convinced that if they cannot reach an agreement on the expiration of the Obamacare tax credits, they will not join Republicans in reopening the government.

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Republicans insisted that negotiations on extending the subsidies – accompanied by reforms – could take place, but only after the government reopens.

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., is the only Senate Democrat who has voted with Republicans every time to reopen the government. He pointed out that Republicans just changed Senate rules last month to advance Trump’s nominees.

“I think we probably should do it. If you can get out of the filibuster to prevent either party from making it even harder to shut down the government, I would absolutely support that,” Fetterman said.