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Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman on Sunday voiced criticism of his own party over the ongoing government shutdown, saying Democrats are sending the “wrong message” in their handling of the budget impasse.
“Shutting our government down. That’s the wrong message for the world, for Americans as well, too,” Fetterman told “Sunday Morning Futures” host Maria Bartiromo.
“I don’t care whose that blame is. It’s not about a blame game. It’s about opening this government, having this conversation, and literally let’s address these kinds of healthcare issues as well too,” he went on.
In an interview with Fox News, Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman said he will “never” support a government shutdown, criticizing lawmakers who refuse to negotiate and urging both parties to reach an agreement to end the stalemate.
“It was wrong if the Republicans did these things, and I led that charge back in March, saying it’s wrong to shut us down, and we kept it open. I said then, back in March, that, when September comes, I’m going to be the one guy that’s saying it is wrong to do this,” he said.
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“Really, the losers are these poor Americans here that are going to get caught in the middle of this thing. I fully support [having] a conversation about extending those [Obamacare] tax credits. I think a lot of Republicans might even agree with that too,” he said.
“That’s a priority for us, and they might agree, but let’s get our government open and have that conversation, so people can get paid, and we can’t have this kind of chaos,” he continued.
Since the government shutdown began on October 1, both parties have engaged in mutual blame. Republicans have labeled the budget impasse the “Schumer shutdown,” while Democrats have demanded that Republicans and President Trump agree to extend Obamacare tax credits, which are set to expire at the end of the year.
Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada and Independent Sen. Angus King of Maine joined Sen. John Fetterman in voting for the Republican-backed stopgap funding bill aimed at keeping the government open.
The measure requires 60 votes to advance, leaving Republicans five votes short of the threshold needed for passage.
On Friday, Trump ordered Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to use “all available funds” to pay U.S. troops on Oct. 15, as the ongoing government shutdown that has threatened military paychecks for 1.3 million active duty service members.
The federal government shut down on Oct. 1 after lawmakers failed to pass a funding bill. Democrats in the Senate have repeatedly blocked efforts to reopen the government, leading to the first situation in American history where active-duty troops could miss a paycheck.
Trump said he would not allow that to happen.
“Chuck Schumer recently said, ‘Every day gets better’ during their Radical Left Shutdown. I DISAGREE!” Trump wrote Friday on Truth Social. “If nothing is done, because of ‘Leader’ Chuck Schumer and the Democrats, our Brave Troops will miss the paychecks they are rightfully due on October 15th.”
“That is why I am using my authority, as Commander in Chief, to direct our Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to use all available funds to get our Troops PAID on October 15th,” the president continued. “We have identified funds to do this, and Secretary Hegseth will use them to PAY OUR TROOPS.”
“I will not allow the Democrats to hold our Military, and the entire Security of our Nation, HOSTAGE, with their dangerous Government Shutdown,” Trump added. “The Radical Left Democrats should OPEN THE GOVERNMENT, and then we can work together to address Healthcare, and many other things that they want to destroy.”
The administration has been reviewing options to ensure military pay continues without congressional approval.
