Senate GOP chatter rises on filibuster reform to end shutdown
by Alexander Bolton - 10/22/25 6:00 AM ET
Senate Republicans are increasingly chattering about changing the filibuster’s rules if Democrats do not end the shutdown, even though Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) says he opposes weakening a tool safeguarding the minority’s power.
Initially, there was no discussion about filibuster reform when it came to the shutdown, but the idea is getting more attention in Republican circles as the stalemate drags on.
Even Republicans who have in the past have voiced staunch support for preserving the filibuster say that creating a carve-out to the 60-vote threshold to reopen the government is getting more talk.
“Nobody talked about filibuster two weeks ago. Now that we see that the Democrats are just not going to agree to anything, then that’s probably a viable option,” Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) said.
“I don’t know the answer to this. I don’t think anybody does because they’re not going to give; we’re not going to give. So it’s going to be a stalemate, and the loser is going to be the American people,” he said.
Tuberville advocated for preserving the filibuster after Republicans won control of the Senate in last year’s election.
“No. No. No. We need to keep the filibuster,” Tuberville told NBC News in November.
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https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5566292-senate-republicans-filibuster-reform/
