John Fetterman says he has no 'regrets' about voting against Democrats to reopen government

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: John Fetterman isn’t losing sleep over breaking with his fellow Democrats to end the longest government shutdown in US history. He doesn’t seem bothered that the Obamacare tax credits his party wanted probably won’t make it through Congress this year.

Talking with MS NOW's 'Katy Tur Reports', the Pennsylvania senator kept it straightforward. “I will never vote to shut our government down,” he said. He also made it clear that the shutdown should never have occurred in the first place.

Fetterman said the 43-day freeze felt more than long enough. He pointed out that the whole ordeal demonstrated just how complex and demanding the federal government can be for workers.

John Fetterman defends reopening government amid ACA subsidy concerns

“Do you regret ending the shutdown?” Katy Tur asked the Pennsylvania senator. “No, we should have never shut...” John Fetterman began, as Tur pressed him further.

Tur pointed out that a lot of Fetterman’s constituents are anxious about losing their health insurance. She added that there isn’t much time left for Republicans and Democrats to agree on extending ACA subsidies.

“Shutting our government down was always wrong. And I will never vote to shut our government down,” Fetterman said. He added that the 43-day shutdown played a role in “plunging 42 million Americans (into) food insecurity.”

Fetterman showed his support for reopening the government. He pointed to a Senate vote scheduled for Thursday on a three-year extension of Obamacare subsidies. Though the measure is expected to fail, he argued the shutdown was unnecessary to achieve the same outcome.

“We could have got the same vote that we’re going to have on Thursday with not even shutting the government for that,” Fetterman said. “Because this vote should not be a political, you know, kind of a show vote. It really should be a vote that really has a chance to pass.”

For those unaware, Fetterman was among eight Democratic senators who voted to reopen the government in November.

Record-breaking government shutdown finally over

The showdown centered on Affordable Care Act premium‑tax credits, with Democrats demanding an extension before agreeing to fund the government.

The issue sparked a major clash between Republicans and Democrats. While a few Democrats supported the funding bill, most opposed it and were reluctant to let it pass.

When the shutdown ended, the deal did not include an extension of the enhanced ACA subsidies, meaning millions of citizens could face health‑insurance premium increases at the start of 2026.