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Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025

Is the government shutdown due partly to the Senate’s 60-vote rule?

Tom Kertscher / Wisconsin Watch, Wisconsin Watch
yes

Contentious legislation, including a bill to end the federal government shutdown, is sometimes delayed or derailed by the U.S. Senate’s 60-vote rule.

Generally, a bill passes the Senate with a simple majority – 51 votes.

But for most bills, any senator can indefinitely postpone a vote with a filibuster – unlimited debate on a bill. 

Ending debate requires 60 votes.

Currently, Republicans have 53 seats. As of Oct. 22, they had not persuaded enough Democrats to support ending debate and vote on a House-passed bill that would end the shutdown with temporary funding.  

The shutdown began when funding ended with the start of the fiscal year, Oct. 1. One potential effect: The Trump administration announced that funding might not be available in November for the 42 million people receiving SNAP food stamps. Wisconsin said it would run out of SNAP funding after Oct. 31.

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