Pennsylvania Democratic Senator John Fetterman is losing his chief of staff following a series of public breaks with his own party over foreign policy and recent praise for the Republican platform.
Cabelle St. John, who joined Fetterman’s team when he entered office in January 2023, will step down from the top advisory role in the coming weeks. St. John took over the position in June 2025 after the departure of previous chief of staff Krysta Juris, meaning the senator will now be looking for his third chief of staff in just over three years.
The departure follows a pattern of high staff turnover that has trailed the Pennsylvania lawmaker since his policy shifts began drawing heavy criticism from progressives. Fetterman has increasingly alienated members of his own party due to his staunch support of Israel’s military operations in Gaza and his alignment with conservative positions on conflicts involving Iran.
Staff friction over these policy shifts is not new for the office. Following a wave of resignations in 2025, one departing employee publicly labeled Fetterman a “useful idiot for Republicans.”
READ: Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman Goes Rogue: Why He’s The Last Dem Standing Against Iran
The internal tension has mirrored Fetterman’s increasingly blunt public commentary about his political home. During a podcast appearance last week, the senator leveled sharp criticism at his colleagues, stating that the Democrats were “becoming more increasingly anti-American for me.”
Fetterman’s steady drift toward conservative foreign policy goals has even caught the attention of the Republican leadership. Earlier this month, former President Donald Trump publicly courted the senator, promising Fetterman “my complete and total endorsement” if he decided to officially switch political parties.
Fetterman himself dismissed concerns about his office management and the significance of the latest resignation. In a text message response to reporters after the news broke, Fetterman brushed off the story, writing, “So much for the turnover issue. Clicks!” He accompanied the text with a graphic highlighting other congressional offices that he indicated had higher staff turnover rates than his own.
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