Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Sunday called on Senate Republicans to abolish the legislative filibuster if Democrats attempt to shut down the federal government again this January.
Speaking on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Bessent emphasized that his position isn’t theoretical—it’s a direct response to what he calls “deliberate sabotage” by Senate Democrats during the most recent government shutdown.
“They haven’t been able to stop President Trump in the courts, or in the media,” Bessent said. “So they’ve decided to hurt the American people instead. That’s not governance, that’s hostage-taking.”
He cited a 1.5% drop in GDP and an $11 billion permanent hit to the economy from the last standoff, asserting that Democrats had no substantive policy demands beyond disrupting Trump’s agenda.
Bessent’s interview followed the publication of an op-ed in The Washington Post earlier Sunday in which he argued that the filibuster is no longer serving its original function as a tool for bipartisan deliberation. Instead, he claimed, it has become a blunt instrument used by the minority to stall progress.
.@SecScottBessent: “If Senate Democrats close the government again [on January 30], then Senate Republicans should immediately abrogate the filibuster.” https://t.co/IXTzdKMDwN pic.twitter.com/XqJNXuJeNo
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) November 23, 2025
“Time To Fight Fire With Fire”
“Some Republicans are afraid Democrats will use the same tactic against us in the future if we eliminate it,” Bessent wrote. “But the reality is—they already do. They’ll use it whether we keep it or not. Game theory proves that unilateral cooperation is a losing strategy.”
In the op-ed, he referred to the classic prisoner’s dilemma as a warning to those in the GOP who still defend the filibuster on principle: “In a repeated game, the player who always cooperates while the opponent always betrays is doomed to lose.”
Bessent’s remarks are the latest in a wave of hardball tactics endorsed by Trump’s inner circle, especially after what the administration views as repeated instances of Democratic obstruction—on budget negotiations, border policy, and judicial appointments.
Rising GOP Momentum To End the Rule
While ending the filibuster would be a dramatic shift in Senate procedure, Bessent’s comments reflect growing frustration inside the Trump administration and among conservative lawmakers. The rule currently requires 60 votes to advance most legislation, effectively giving the minority party veto power.
Bessent’s threat was not subtle: “If Democrats force another shutdown in January, Republicans must immediately abrogate the filibuster.”
Whether Senate Majority Leader John Thune will move in that direction remains to be seen, but pressure is clearly building.
With Democrats increasingly turning to procedural roadblocks to slow Trump’s agenda, Republicans may soon be forced to decide whether to maintain Senate tradition—or finally go nuclear.
The post Bessent: End the Filibuster if Democrats Weaponize Shutdown Again, Treasury Secretary Warns appeared first on Real News Now.
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