John Fetterman breaks with Democrats, backs GOP in shutdown vote: 'I choose country over party'

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: As the government shutdown drags on amid a bitter partisan standoff over healthcare funding, Democratic Senator John Fetterman has emerged as a rare voice urging compromise.

Breaking with his party, the Pennsylvania lawmaker sided with Republicans in a bid to reopen the government, calling on fellow Democrats to put the nation above politics.

John Fetterman breaks with Democrats, backs GOP bill to end shutdown

On Thursday, October 23, the Senate failed in a 54–46 vote to advance a Republican bill aimed at paying certain federal workers during the shutdown. The measure needed 60 votes to pass. Only three Democrats, including Fetterman, voted with Republicans.

“It’s an easy, easy choice to pick my country over the party, especially in circumstances like this,” Fetterman said on Fox News’ 'Saturday in America.'

“I do believe that there’s a critical mass of my fellow Democrats that are dug in until there’s an absolute ironclad kind of a deal,” Fetterman said, explaining his party’s position.

Earlier, on Wednesday, October 22, Fetterman took to X (formerly Twitter) to make his stance clear. Along with a video, he wrote, "Shut our government down and America loses. 2 MILLION Pennsylvanians depend on SNAP to feed their families. For me, it’s hungry Americans over party. Paying our military over party. Paying Capitol Police and federal workers over party. I choose country over party."

John Fetterman pushes for government reopening 

Democrats are refusing to support any funding bill unless it includes an extension of the Affordable Care Act subsidies, which are set to expire this year.

They argue that renewing these subsidies before open enrollment in November is essential to prevent healthcare costs from rising for millions of Americans.

Republicans, however, maintain that the government must reopen before any negotiations on healthcare funding can take place. Fetterman said he believes Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-SD, is an “honorable guy” and that discussions on healthcare will progress once the government reopens.

“Let’s just open it up,” he said. “Then we can have that conversation to see if we can extend those tax credit deals, because I do believe there are enough Republicans that would like to see that too.” 

John Fetterman warns both parties as shutdown harms American families

The shutdown, which began on October 1, has forced the closure of nonessential federal offices and delayed pay for hundreds of thousands of workers. Now, in its fourth week, many federal employees have missed their first full paycheck.

The shutdown’s impact on the federal nutrition program has been a key concern for Fetterman, who says lawmakers must put aside their differences and focus on ensuring people don’t go hungry.

He emphasized that neither side is winning, instead, the entire country is losing. “It’s like, ‘Are we winning? Are we losing?’” he said. “Because I guarantee America is losing in this place right now.”