"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 Truth Social late on Thursday.
Filibuster is a legislative tactic to delay voting on a bill. Senate Democrats have been using it to repeatedly reject the funding bill, which requires a supermajority of at least 60 votes in the 100-seat chamber to be adopted. Republicans currently hold 53 seats, while Democrats have 47.
The "nuclear option" allows Senate rules to be changed by a simple majority vote to pass a bill.
The new US fiscal year began on October 1, but Congress failed to approve a budget, leaving the government unable to function. A government shutdown in the US involves the cessation of operations by some government agencies funded directly by Congress due to the lack of a budget for the next fiscal year, a situation that is not uncommon.