Senate Republicans are reportedly working to reach a deal with Senate Democrats to reopen the government on Friday. The proposed agreement would involve amendments to the continuing resolution, including three full-year appropriations bills. These bills are seemingly set to expire after the next midterm election, where Democrats aim to reclaim the Senate majority.
The government shutdown became the longest in U.S. history on Wednesday, entering its 35th day. The previous record was 34 days, set during President Trump’s first term. Now, Republicans are attempting to bring Democrats to the negotiating table and secure the 60 votes needed to overcome the filibuster, offering a plan more favorable to their agenda.
However, President Trump has repeatedly urged Senate Republicans to end the filibuster rule, which requires 60 votes to pass most legislation, and to reopen the government immediately.
According to Politico, the plan is to bring up the House-passed continuing resolution—previously rejected by Democrats—and amend it with a new expiration date, very likely in January, along with a negotiated package of three full-year spending bills. Senate Majority Whip John Thune believes the deal could gain enough Democratic support to advance, though the outcome is uncertain.
Finalizing the deal may take several days due to procedural hurdles and objections from senators. In preparation, Senate GOP leaders are ready to keep lawmakers in Washington to pressure a resolution to the record-breaking shutdown. When asked if the Senate would remain in session through the weekend, Majority Whip John Barrasso replied, “yes.”
On the other side, Senate Democrats held a lengthy lunch meeting on Thursday to discuss their shutdown strategy. Though no resolution was reached immediately, several Democrats indicated ongoing discussions within the caucus. According to CBS News, Senate Republicans hope moderate Democrats involved in negotiations throughout the week will be persuaded by the appropriations bills and a promised vote on extending health care subsidies.
Negotiations with Democrats—likely involving concessions that the Republican base may oppose—would be unnecessary if Republicans chose to eliminate the filibuster. Despite having full control of the federal government, Republicans have so far refused to wield that power to end the shutdown.
At an Oval Office press conference on Thursday, President Trump renewed his calls for Republicans to discontinue the filibuster. This came a day after he urged GOP senators at a breakfast meeting to terminate the procedure. Trump emphasized that ending the filibuster would allow the Senate to swiftly pass election integrity laws, including voter ID requirements and one-day voting, along with legislation on border security, tax cuts, and more—items Democrats oppose.
“What the Democrats will do is they’re going to make Puerto Rico a state, they’re going to make DC a state, they’re going to pack the court, they’re going to end up with more electoral votes, they’re going to end up with four senators because of the two states, and they’re going to do this, 100%,” Trump stated. “So if they’re going to do it, I would do it. I would do it before them.”
Trump also said:
> “I think it’s time for them to end the filibuster and just put everybody back to work. Vote in voter ID, vote in no mail-in voting except for military, far away military and people that are very sick. I’d like to see one day voting. I’d like to see not 65 days of voting from all over the place. I’d like to clean up the elections; the border, we’ve done a great job. We have a great, strong border now. I’d like to see new rules on immigration that can be fair and good. Rules that you’d never get, rules that they’re never going to get. There’s so many things we could put in, including tax cuts that we could get, and we could do it all ourselves. But to do that, you have to end the filibuster.”
Trump criticized Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema for blocking past efforts to change filibuster rules, saying, “They would have done it, except Manchin and Sinema got in their way.”
As reported by The Gateway Pundit, on Wednesday, Trump hosted Republican senators for breakfast, urging them to end the filibuster, reopen the government, and pass laws to “fix our country and our elections.” However, Senate Majority Leader John Thune and several other senators have publicly opposed ending the filibuster. “It’s just not happening,” Thune said, making the 50 votes necessary to terminate the filibuster unlikely.
The ongoing negotiations and political tension underscore the complexities in resolving the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. As both parties weigh their strategies, the nation watches closely for a resolution to the stalemate.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/11/just-senate-meet-friday-amid-deal-reopen-government/