President Donald Trump has called on Republicans in the US Senate to scrap the filibuster rule in a bid to end the ongoing government shutdown, now entering its 30th day.
The filibuster is a long-standing senate rule that requires 60 of the 100 members to approve most legislation. With a 53-47 majority, removing the rule would allow Republicans to pass a funding bill without Democratic support.
“It is now time for the Republicans to play their ‘TRUMP CARD,’ and go for what is called the Nuclear Option - Get rid of the Filibuster, and get rid of it, NOW,” Trump wrote on social media.
The shutdown, which began on 1 October, has left millions of Americans facing the loss of essential services.
If it continues into the weekend, more than 40 million people could lose access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap), which provides food aid to low-income households.
