Momentum is building among Senate Republicans to reconsider the long-standing filibuster rule, following an intense White House meeting where President Donald Trump urged GOP lawmakers to change the Senate’s procedures and push forward his legislative agenda.

The government shutdown, now stretching into another week, has fueled tensions on Capitol Hill. Trump’s demand is clear: remove the 60-vote threshold that blocks most legislation and allow the Senate to act with a simple majority. Such a move, often referred to as the “nuclear option,” would mark one of the most significant rule changes in modern congressional history.

While the proposal remains controversial, several Republicans who once defended the filibuster are now signaling openness to Trump’s call, revealing growing fractures within the GOP as frustration mounts over Washington’s stalemate.

At the center of the debate is the Senate filibuster, a rule designed to encourage consensus by requiring a supermajority of 60 votes to advance most bills. Critics argue that the rule has become a tool for obstruction, allowing the minority party to block legislation and stall government action.

President Trump and his allies say the time has come to eliminate what he calls a “roadblock to progress.” They blame Democratic leadership for using the filibuster to paralyze efforts to reopen the government and enact key Republican priorities.

“I understand the president’s frustration,” said Sen. Jim Banks (R–Ind.). “The shutdown is unacceptable and largely the Democrats’ fault. The filibuster is standing in the way of fiscal reform, voter ID laws, and balanced budgets. We have a short window to deliver on our promises.”

Wednesday’s breakfast meeting at the White House was dominated by one issue: filibuster reform.

“This is not something I want to do,” said Sen. Roger Marshall (R–Kan.), “but the Democrats are almost pushing us to it. Desperate times call for desperate measures.”

Trump has launched an aggressive campaign to rally support, warning Republicans that if they do not act now, Democrats will eliminate the filibuster once they regain control. On social media, he declared that ending the rule would allow Republicans to “get everything approved, like no Congress in history.”

His push has already influenced several senators. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R–Ala.), who last year firmly opposed changing the rule, now says the nuclear option “needs to be on the table.” “If that’s what it takes to get things done, so be it,” he said after meeting with Trump.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R–Mo.) has also aligned with Trump, citing the urgent need to restore SNAP food assistance benefits for millions of Americans affected by the shutdown. “If the choice is between helping 42 million hungry Americans or defending an outdated Senate rule, I’ll choose people every time,” Hawley said.

Even long-time defenders of Senate procedure are showing signs of reconsideration. Sen. John Cornyn (R–Texas), a senior member of the conference, said he still sees value in the filibuster but criticized Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer’s refusal to negotiate. “There are many good reasons to preserve the rule,” Cornyn said, “but Schumer’s intransigence is forcing us to consider all options.”

Still, Senate leaders insist that Trump does not yet have the votes. Senate Minority Leader John Thune (R–S.D.) told reporters that “the president’s view is well known, but there are not the votes to do this. Our focus should remain on reopening the government.”

Several Republican senators remain firmly opposed to changing the rules, warning that it could backfire once Democrats return to power.

“Making legislation more difficult to pass encourages compromise,” argued Sen. Rand Paul (R–Ky.). “Without the filibuster, we’d risk one-party rule. Democrats could add new states, pack the Supreme Court, and nationalize elections. Eliminating the 60-vote threshold would be a mistake.”

Other vocal opponents include Sens. Ted Cruz (R–Texas), Mitch McConnell (R–Ky.), Thom Tillis (R–N.C.), and Lisa Murkowski (R–Alaska). Cruz dismissed Trump’s proposal outright, saying, “There’s zero chance this happens. There simply isn’t the support in the Senate.”

With Republicans holding 53 Senate seats, Trump would need nearly every GOP senator to back the rule change. For now, that threshold appears out of reach.

Nevertheless, the president’s ability to shift long-standing positions shows the influence he continues to wield over the party. Some political analysts see this as the opening round of a larger fight that could define the Senate’s future balance of power.

“The debate over the filibuster is no longer theoretical,” said one GOP strategist. “It’s now a test of Trump’s leadership, Senate tradition, and the party’s willingness to govern decisively.”

As the shutdown drags on and public pressure grows, the filibuster’s fate—and Trump’s legislative agenda—hang in the balance. Whether Republicans will take the unprecedented step to eliminate the Senate’s most powerful procedural safeguard remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: this debate is far from over.