Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent urged Senate Republicans to end the filibuster as a fiscal year 2026 budget battle is expected in January and could trigger another government shutdown. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 27 (UPI) — President Donald Trump and Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent urged an end to the Senate filibuster rule ahead of an anticipated budget battle in January.
Bessent submitted an op-ed that The Washington Post published on Saturday and blames Senate Democrats and the filibuster for blocking passage of a resolution to keep the federal government open while negotiating the 2026 fiscal year budget and causing a record 43-day shutdown of the federal government.
“The American people are just now emerging from the longest and most devastating government shutdown in U.S. history,” Bessent said.
“While the blame lies squarely with Senate Democrats, we cannot ignore the weapon they used to hold the country hostage: the legislative filibuster,” Bessent wrote.
With the continuing resolution expiring on Jan. 30, Bessent said there is a strong likelihood that Senate Democrats again will use the filibuster to block passage of a budget and force the government to close again.
“Democrats inflicted tremendous harm on the nation, including $11 billion in permanent economic damage” as the federal government was “held for ransom by the left’s demands,” Bessent said.
He said the shutdown caused the nation to lose 1.5 percentage points in gross domestic product growth during the fourth quarter, triggered 9,500 canceled flights and caused 1.4 million federal workers to miss their paychecks.
He called the filibuster a “historical accident that has evolved into a standing veto for the [Senate] minority and a license for paralysis.”
The Constitution does not mention a filibuster, and its “framers envisioned debate, but they expect majority rule,” Bessent said.
He said the filibuste