Pro-life groups express concern as Trump calls to end Senate filibuster rule

WASHINGTON (OSV News) -- As he signed legislation to end the federal government shutdown late Nov. 12, President Donald Trump reiterated his call to end the Senate's longstanding filibuster rule.

But spokespersons for multiple pro-life organizations expressed concern to OSV News that ending the rule in the upper chamber would ultimately ease the passage of legislation that would enact protections for abortion.

In remarks at the White House as he signed the package to end the 43-day federal government shutdown, Trump argued the continuing resolution included only authorized current spending levels for much of the government through Jan. 30.

"If we had the filibuster terminated, this would never happen again, and don't forget we have another date coming up in the not-too-distant future," he said.

"So I say terminate the filibuster because, by the way, the Democrats will do it immediately if they ever assumed office, which hopefully they won't," he added.

During the shutdown, both in public comments and reportedly in private settings, Trump urged the Senate GOP to scrap the filibuster, including in one private meeting at the White House the day after Republican losses at the ballot box on Nov. 5.

Afterward, an Axios report described the room as "eerily silent" and "uncomfortable," likely a sign of the filibuster's enduring support among many GOP senators.

"I know where math is on this issue in the Senate. It's just not happening," Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., later told reporters.

However, it is not clear how many senators would support ending or diminishing the filibuster rule, as some have not made their positions public.

In his first term, Trump also attempted to end the filibuster rule, but faced pushback within his party. Former President Joe Biden -- as well as former Vice President Kamala Harris during her 2024 campaign -- backed changes to the filibuster in an attempt to codify abortion protections and pass voting rights legislation, but also faced pushback, notably from former Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, who changed her party affiliation from Democratic to independent before her departure.

Critics of the filibuster rule argue it creates inefficiency and gridlock, and is outdated for the modern legislative scope of the Senate. Its supporters argue that the filibuster gives the minority party a voice in the deliberative chamber, preventing simple majority rule and forcing some degree of cooperation.

The late Sen. Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat who was his party's leader in the Senate, chipped away at the filibuster in 2013 by using what is called the "nuclear option" to eliminate the filibuster for many presidential nominations. Republicans soon followed in 2017 by eliminating it for confirming Supreme Court justices.

But pro-life advocates cautioned against eliminating the filibuster in comments to OSV News.

John Shelton, policy director for Advancing American Freedom, a political advocacy group launched by former Vice President Mike Pence, told OSV News that "ending the filibuster might serve the president's short-term policy goals, but it is a bridge that we must never cross."

"The consequences for the unborn would be an unconscionable price to pay," he said.

Shelton argued Democrats "have repeatedly shown that, without the filibuster, they would have advanced abortion without limits on the national stage, putting an end to the modest victories won for the unborn in red states" such as "gestational limits, sex-selective bans, protections for those with Down syndrome and other genetic conditions."

"Republicans won't be in control forever," he said. "While the filibuster has often frustrated social conservatives and progressives alike, giving it up would be even more disastrous."

Kristi Hamrick, vice president of media and policy for Students for Life of America and Students for Life Action, told OSV News, "We appreciate how frustrating it is to have the legitimate work of simply funding the nation blocked by Senate Democrats, but the filibuster has saved preborn babies lives and protected their mothers along with pro-life taxpayer by preventing some truly horrible bills."

"The filibuster has served as a useful tool, not perfect but important, in stopping a radical agenda," she argued. "For that reason, we do support the filibuster, while we appreciate conversations on how to get things done in Washington D.C."

Hamrick argued "the filibuster saved us" during the Biden administration.

Pro-life groups have often advocated for the preservation of the Senate filibuster as a bulwark against expanding abortion protections, which may have otherwise been enacted.

In 2021, Susan B. Anthony List, which works to elect pro-life candidates to public office, ran advertisements in West Virginia thanking Manchin for his support for the Senate filibuster without carveouts for particular legislation. The group declined a request for comment from OSV News on Trump's call to eliminate the filibuster.

However, some pro-life legislation, such as the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, has also failed to reach the filibuster threshold. A version of that legislation passed in the House in 2015 but failed on a procedural vote in the Senate 54-42.

As a candidate for president in 2024, Trump stated abortion should be a matter for the states rather than Congress and said he would veto a federal abortion ban if one reached his desk.

The Catholic Church teaches that all human life is sacred from conception to natural death, and as such, opposes direct abortion.