Trump: Use ‘Nuclear Option’ to Pass Long-Term Budget

President Donald Trump said Sunday that Senate Republicans should use the "nuclear option" to pass a long-term budget without a continuing resolution if Senate Republicans and Democrats cannot reach a compromise to end the government shutdown.

The Republican-controlled House passed a spending bill on Thursday night to fund the government through Feb. 16, including the extension of the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for six years. However, the Senate failed to pass their bill during a late-night vote on Friday.

Senate Republicans needed 60 votes in order to overcome a filibuster and pass the bill, but only five Democrats voted for the bill, effectively guaranteeing a shutdown since the Republicans hold a slim majority with 51 seats, and all but four of them voted for the bill.

Trump castigated Senate Democrats for voting against the spending bill to keep the government open and that they care more about protecting illegal immigrants and the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) immigration program—which expires in March—than the military and border security.

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