Fetterman Urges Democrats to End Shutdown, Rejects Rhetoric

Senator John Fetterman criticized Senate Democrats for the 32-day federal government shutdown and urged the party to reopen the government to protect SNAP recipients and federal workers. He warned roughly 42 million Americans face food insecurity as SNAP benefits were threatened and emergency funds are insufficient, and said the shutdown risks health coverage for many, including about 150,000 Pennsylvanians. Fetterman said he supports extending Affordable Care Act subsidies but argued holding the government hostage over policy is the wrong tactic and apologized on behalf of Senate Democrats for failing to end the shutdown. He said he will not demonize political opponents — refusing to call people fascists or Nazis or compare them to Hitler — and urged Democrats to stop using incendiary rhetoric and instead engage across the aisle. Fetterman has voted with Republicans to keep the government funded and insisted he is an "honest Democrat" who is not switching parties.