Senate Republicans aren't ready to go "nuclear" on the filibuster as the government shutdown continues on, despite Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., pushing to change the rules for nominees earlier this year. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Republicans have already turned to the "nuclear option" to unilaterally change the rules this year to blast through Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Democrats’ blockade of President Donald Trump’s nominees. But for many, the notion of changing the rules and nuking the filibuster is a third rail.
"Never, never, ever, never, none," Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., told Fox News Digital when asked if he would consider changing the rules.
"I've never heard that since the Democrats tried to do it, and I think we would all fight it pretty hard," he continued.
The last time the filibuster was put under the microscope was when Democrats controlled the Senate in 2022. Schumer, who was majority leader at the time, tried to change the rules for a "talking filibuster" in order to pass voting rights legislation.
SENATE REPUBLICANS CONFIRM MORE THAN 100 TRUMP NOMINEES AS GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN CONTINUES
Sen. John Fetterman during the sixth installment of The Senate Project moderated by FOX NEWS anchor Shannon Bream at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate on June 2, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Scott Eisen/Getty Images)
Frustrations reached a new level in Congress on Wednesday, with Sens. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., and Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., publicly arguing with House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., over the shutdown. Then there was another public back-and-forth between House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y.
Still, neither side in the upper chamber is ready to budge from their positions.
Most Senate Democratic caucus members are rooted in their position that unless they get a deal on expiring Obamacare tax credits, they will not join Republicans to reopen the government.
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Republicans have been adamant that negotiations on extending the subsidies — with reforms — can happen, but only after the government is reopened.
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., is the lone Senate Democrat who has voted with Republicans each time to reopen the government. He pointed out that Republicans had just changed Senate rules last month to advance Trump’s nominees.
"I think we probably should. If you're able to get out of the filibuster to prevent either party to make it a lot harder to shut the government down, I’d absolutely support that," Fetterman said.
Alex Miller is a writer for Fox News Digital covering the U.S. Senate.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/senate-gop-resists-nuclear-option-dem-shutdown-standoff-deepens