Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggested that Republicans should end the filibuster if the Democrats attempt to once again shut down the government in January.

Speaking with Kristen Welker of NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday, Bessent was asked about the viability of ending the filibuster.

“You call for an end to the filibuster. In the past, leader Thune has said that it’s just not happening. There aren’t the votes. Mr. Secretary, do you believe that you have enough votes, that the president has enough votes to get rid of the filibuster?” Welker asked.

Bessent responded, saying that his editorial, which was published in The Washington Post on Sunday, was designed to “put the Senate on notice.”

“The Democrats kept the government shut down — and Ezra Klein in The New York Times took the mask off. He said this wasn’t about health care; this was about stopping totalitarianism. The Democrats haven’t been able to stop President Trump in the courts; they haven’t been able to stop him in the media, so they had to harm the American people — 1.5% hit to GDP, $11 billion permanent hit. They don’t care. So I believe that Senate Democrats, if Senate Democrats close the government again, Senate Republicans should immediately abrogate the filibuster,” the Treasury secretary stated.

.@SecScottBessent: “If Senate Democrats close the government again [on January 30], then Senate Republicans should immediately abrogate the filibuster.” https://t.co/IXTzdKMDwN pic.twitter.com/XqJNXuJeNo

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) November 23, 2025

In his Washington Post editorial, Bessent laid out the history of the filibuster, arguing that it is a relic that no longer serves its intended purpose. “Today, the minority party can abuse the filibuster to the point of rendering the Senate almost useless as a deliberative body,” he wrote.

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“Some Republicans hesitate to end the filibuster out of fear that Democrats will one day use that same power against them,” Bessent noted. “But Democrats will use that power against them whether Republicans end the filibuster or not. GOP senators who defend the filibuster are ignoring basic game theory. As the classic prisoner’s dilemma shows us, in a repeated game, the player who always cooperates while the opponent who always betrays is doomed to lose.”

Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon stated that the Department of Justice will not tolerate mob intimidation or obstruction targeting houses of worship, following an incident in Manhattan in which a pro-Palestinian crowd surrounded Park East Synagogue. In a Friday post on X, Dhillon emphasized that blocking access to a house of worship is a federal crime, adding that the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, under Attorney General Pam Bondi, was gathering information about the event.

It’s a federal crime to block access to a house of worship in the US. @CivilRights under @AGPamBondi will NOT tolerate it and we are gathering information about this incident! https://t.co/cBnAHCq986

— AAGHarmeetDhillon (@AAGDhillon) November 21, 2025

On Sunday, she confirmed that a federal investigation was underway, reiterating that the Department maintains zero tolerance for violence or obstruction near any religious institution.

Investigation is underway. @TheJusticeDept has zero tolerance for violence/obstruction around any American house of worship. https://t.co/rEEFAifj6n

— AAGHarmeetDhillon (@AAGDhillon) November 23, 2025

The confrontation occurred when Park East Synagogue, led by 95-year-old Holocaust survivor Rabbi Arthur Schneier, hosted a legal informational event organized by Nefesh B’Nefesh, a group that assists Jews in immigrating to Israel. Protesters surrounded the building, reportedly blocking entry and shouting phrases including “Death to the IDF” and “Globalize the Intifada,” along with other hostile and antisemitic slogans.

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“Another woman shouted, ‘F***ing Jewish pricks,’ while others called the Jewish demonstrators ‘rapists,’ ‘racists,’ and ‘pedophiles,’” The Times of Israel reported.

Instead of focusing on the mob’s actions, New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s press secretary issued a statement saying he discouraged the protesters’ language, but also suggested the synagogue was promoting activities “in violation of international law.” When asked to clarify, his office argued that facilitating Jewish immigration to Israel constitutes support for “settlement activity beyond the Green Line.”