Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) described the ongoing government shutdown as “very isolating” while defending his decision to join a small group of Democrats and one independent in voting for a Republican-backed proposal to fund the government.
The first-term senator was one of only three members of the Senate Democratic Conference—along with Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Independent Senator Angus King (I-ME), who caucuses with Democrats—to vote in favor of the GOP-backed proposal, which aims to fund the government through November 21.
“For me, it’s been very isolating, honestly,” Fetterman told Fox News’s Maria Bartiromo on “Sunday Morning Futures.” He drew a parallel between this situation and his unwavering support for Israel, a stance that has often pitted him against the progressive wing of his party.
READ: Pennsylvania Republicans Embrace Fetterman As Dems Turn Sour On Senator’s Job Performance
The shutdown, which began on October 1, is fast approaching its two-week mark, with senators having departed Washington on Thursday without a resolution. The Senate is scheduled to return on Tuesday following the federal holiday.
Defying the Party Line
The House-passed, GOP-backed funding bill, which Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has called “clean,” has faced staunch opposition from the vast majority of Senate Democrats. They have cited their desire to include a permanent extension of subsidies offered under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) as a prerequisite for their support.
However, Senator Fetterman has consistently stated that he will never vote to shut down the government. On Sunday, he emphasized his commitment to this principle, saying, “regardless of [what] the base might want,” he will continue to vote to fund the government.
The White House Office of Management and Budget began laying off a “substantial” number of federal workers on Friday as a result of the funding lapse. RELATED: Trump Admin Fires Entire Agency In One Swipe Amid Schumer Shutdown
Fetterman previously suggested on September 30 that a shutdown would benefit President Donald Trump. He reiterated his independent approach, arguing that his positions are “reasonable” because he refuses to “just follow the party line.”
“I’m going to think, ‘Hey, independently, this is important.’ And this is, I happen to believe that’s true,” he concluded. The comments underscore a growing willingness by the Pennsylvania Democrat to chart his own course in the Senate, even as Washington remains paralyzed over the budget impasse.
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