Senator Fetterman’s Critique of Government Shutdown
In Washington, Senator John Fetterman voiced his discontent on Wednesday regarding his fellow Democrats, who have contributed to extending the government shutdown for a staggering 36 days—marking the longest shutdown in U.S. history. Meanwhile, millions of Americans have suffered from lost food stamp benefits or have been forced to work without pay in federal roles.
Fetterman, one of three Democratic senators along with Catherine Cortez Masto and Angus King, who have regularly sided with Republicans to bring an end to the shutdown, expressed to the Post that the ongoing impasse “should never have started.” He criticized the situation strongly.
“While people might celebrate breaking records, this is really a terrible one, and I won’t be part of it in any way,” said the Pennsylvania Democrat, who is 56. He added, “We’re only a few weeks away from Thanksgiving, and now 42 million Americans are set to lose their SNAP benefits. Anyone who’s been at our airport can tell you it’s been a mess. Last weekend, we couldn’t even catch a flight.”
Fetterman further questioned, “Who wants to vote against paying our military?”
While both Republican and Democratic Rep. Jared Golden from Maine supported the stopgap measure in the House, over 40 Senate Democrats have prevented fewer than 14 bills from progressing that would fund the government at existing levels as of November 21.
The bill had initially passed the House on September 19, yet has stalled in the Senate despite discussions among moderates from both parties aimed at bridging funding gaps.
This deadlock has jeopardized the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for low-income Americans, halted pay for U.S. military personnel and air traffic controllers, and delayed negotiations on health benefits, which were key reasons for Democrats opting to instigate the shutdown in the first place.
Fetterman stated that the shutdown has intensified partisan divides, hampered essential Democratic supporters, hurt law enforcement efforts, and disrupted travel.
He highlighted a concerning incident where a man from Pennsylvania was arrested for attempting to harm members of Congress. “The people who protect us aren’t even being paid for doing their jobs,” he remarked.
Rep. Robert Garcia from California, a prominent Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, reported a statement on Tuesday, regarding a suspect who intended to travel to Washington, D.C., with plans of committing murder after receiving death threats.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries have since called for another bipartisan meeting with President Trump to explore resolutions for the shutdown, especially after recent Democratic electoral successes in Virginia, New Jersey, and New York City.
Some Democrats have suggested simultaneous voting on both the funding bill and a measure to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies that will expire at the year’s end. Discussions are also underway among lawmakers about partially funding certain segments of the federal workforce.
Schumer has not confirmed if his caucus agrees on such a proposal, but there is speculation that Senate Democrats may defy leadership urging and approve a temporary spending bill to end the shutdown.
Fetterman expressed urgency, stating, “We need five more individuals. This has continued for too long, and while some might have aimed to make a strong statement, we’ve long surpassed any reasonable boundaries and risk hurting millions.” He emphasized, “There are no winners in this. It’s America that suffers.” He concluded, “A government shutdown erodes the nation’s reputation, stability, and economy, while profoundly impacting the lives of our people—all from some distressing political moves.”
