Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman called out his own party for “moving against our core values” after the federal government shut down and warned that millions of Americans could lose their SNAP food‑stamps.
He told CNN’s “State of the Union” that the shutdown would cost 42 million people their nutrition assistance and accused Democrats of not taking responsibility for the halt.
“I refuse to shut our government down,” Fetterman said. “Democrats need to own the shutdown. They’re the ones who let it happen.”
The Senate, where Fetterman is a Democrat, has been split on how to end the stoppage. He was one of only three senators—alongside Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (Nev.) and Angus King (Maine)—who voted against the plain‑spoken stopgap measure that would have reopened the federal agencies. He has also urged Republicans to use the “nuclear option” to lower the 60‑vote threshold on filibusters.
Fetterman’s public outcry comes as Democrats fight with Republicans to secure Medicaid expansions and keep Obamacare subsidies in place through the end of the year. When SNAP funding ran out last week, a federal court forced the Department of Agriculture to use a contingency reserve to keep the program running for a few more weeks.
President Trump has called on his law team for guidance after two courts delivered conflicting rulings on what the president can do during a shutdown.
Fetterman says the collapse “hits people who need help the most.” He points to his wife’s free food stand as evidence of the real‑world impact. “This is a complete failure. It’s embarrassing that we can’t even keep the lights on for federal workers or let families rely on SNAP, WIC, or Head Start,” he said. “We’re going against our core values by keeping the government shuttered.”
The senator added that while Democrats support extending Obamacare subsidies, the shutdown prevents any progress on those health‑care priorities. “Reopen the government, and we’ll find a way forward,” he said. “That’s how democracy works right now.”
The continuing stalemate in Washington risks more than state services. Fetterman’s critics argue that the shutdown could worsen food insecurity, strain federal workers’ finances, and derail progress on health‑care reforms that many constituents rely on. The decision to reopen the government will be closely watched by lawmakers and the public alike as the next step in resolving the crisis.
Source: New York Post
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