Senate Republican Leadership Says They Won’t Nuke the Filibuster to End the Shutdown

“That’s not in the cards,” Majority Whip John Barrasso told NOTUS.

John Thune

Senate Majority Leader John Thune with Sens. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., left, and James Lankford, R-Okla. Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via AP

As Senate Republicans explore options to swiftly end a government shutdown, there is one procedural maneuver leadership is already firmly dismissing: changing the filibuster rules.

“That’s not in the cards,” Majority Whip John Barrasso told NOTUS. “We’re going to continue to bring this continuing resolution to the floor. Three Democrats voted with us yesterday. I know there’s some more that are considering it. We’re going to reopen the government.”

Multiple Senate Republicans told NOTUS they anticipate a drip-drip of Democrats will eventually support the GOP-led continuing resolution as a shutdown becomes politically and logistically painful in their home states.