Fetterman, Other Democrats Break Ranks on Shutdown: ‘Sends Wrong Message’
Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman is among a small group of Democrats publicly breaking with party leadership over the ongoing government shutdown — criticizing his own side for sending what he called “the wrong message” to the American people and to the world.
“Shutting our government down. That’s the wrong message for the world, for Americans as well, too,” Fetterman told Fox News host Maria Bartiromo on Sunday Morning Futures.
“I don’t care whose that blame is. It’s not about a blame game. It’s about opening this government, having this conversation, and literally let’s address these kinds of healthcare issues as well too,” he added.
Fetterman, who has often positioned himself as an independent voice within his party, said he will “never” support a government shutdown — blasting lawmakers who refuse to negotiate and calling for bipartisan cooperation to reopen federal operations.
“It was wrong if the Republicans did these things, and I led that charge back in March, saying it’s wrong to shut us down, and we kept it open,” Fetterman said. “I said then, back in March, that, when September comes, I’m going to be the one guy that’s saying it is wrong to do this.”
The Pennsylvania senator emphasized that ordinary Americans are the ones suffering most: “Really, the losers are these poor Americans here that are going to get caught in the middle of this thing. I fully support [having] a conversation about extending those [Obamacare] tax credits. I think a lot of Republicans might even agree with that too,” he said.
“That’s a priority for us, and they might agree, but let’s get our government open and have that conversation, so people can get paid, and we can’t have this kind of chaos,” he continued.
Growing Democrat Divide
Fetterman’s comments highlight growing divisions among Senate Democrats, as the shutdown — which began on October 1 — drags into its third week. Republicans have called the standoff the “Schumer shutdown,” arguing that Senate Democrats are deliberately blocking bipartisan funding measures to appease the party’s far-left base.
Alongside Fetterman, Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada and Independent Sen. Angus King of Maine also broke ranks, voting for a Republican-backed stopgap funding bill designed to keep the government open. The measure fell short by just five votes of the 60 needed to advance.
Democrats have insisted that any deal must include an extension of Obamacare tax credits set to expire at the end of the year — a demand that Republicans and President Trump have rejected as unrelated to government funding.
President Trump Acts to Protect Troops
Amid the standoff, President Donald J. Trump has taken decisive action to ensure U.S. troops receive their paychecks despite congressional gridlock.
On Friday, the president ordered Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to “use all available funds” to pay America’s 1.3 million active-duty service members on October 15, preventing what would have been the first missed military paycheck in U.S. history.
“Chuck Schumer recently said, ‘Every day gets better’ during their Radical Left Shutdown. I DISAGREE!” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “If nothing is done, because of ‘Leader’ Chuck Schumer and the Democrats, our Brave Troops will miss the paychecks they are rightfully due on October 15th.”
“That is why I am using my authority, as Commander in Chief, to direct our Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to use all available funds to get our Troops PAID on October 15th,” the president continued. “We have identified funds to do this, and Secretary Hegseth will use them to PAY OUR TROOPS.”
“I will not allow the Democrats to hold our Military, and the entire Security of our Nation, HOSTAGE, with their dangerous Government Shutdown,” Trump added. “The Radical Left Democrats should OPEN THE GOVERNMENT, and then we can work together to address Healthcare, and many other things that they want to destroy.”
Administration officials have confirmed they are reviewing all legal options to sustain military pay without relying on congressional approval — underscoring the president’s commitment to America’s armed forces and national security.