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Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., told “Hannity” Wednesday he’s willing to “pay a price” to help reopen the government, even if it means breaking with his party, as the shutdown stretches into its fourth week.
“I am always going to vote country over my party and if I pay a price within my base, that’s something I am willing to do,” Fetterman said.
Fetterman has been outspoken in his criticism of the shutdown, vocalizing his priorities to fund the military and Capitol Police over party politics. He noted that he’s one of only two Democrats voting to keep the government open.
“I’m not afraid to tell my truth and if I’m going to pay a penalty, I’m not afraid of that,” Fetterman told host Sean Hannity. “It’s wrong to shut our government down.”
FETTERMAN CALLS OUT DEMS’ FLIP: ‘WE RAN ON KILLING THE FILIBUSTER, AND NOW WE LOVE IT’
U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., sits on the steps of the U.S. Capitol on October 1, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
This comes after Fetterman labeled the 22-day-long shutdown a “failure” in a post to X Wednesday.
Looming cuts to critical government programs have struck a chord with the Pennsylvania Democrat.
“I refuse to vote to suspend SNAP for millions of Pennsylvanians in my state and across the entire nation,” he insisted.
GOVERNMENT ENTERS LONGEST FULL SHUTDOWN IN US HISTORY WITH NO END IN SIGHT
Millions of Pennsylvanians and 42 million Americans rely on food bought with assistance from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which helps low-income families afford nutritious groceries. The largely federally funded program is reportedly expected to be cut if the shutdown continues.
“That’s going to be suspended because our government is shut down,” Fetterman said. “I can’t ever vote for that kind of mass food insecurity.”
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., speaks during a hearing with the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on Capitol Hill on May 20, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
The Democratic senator also condemned what he described as “extreme” rhetoric from party leaders, referencing President Donald Trump being labeled a “fascist.”
“Extreme kinds of rhetoric make it easier for those extreme kinds of actions,” he said.
“I refuse to be a part of it and comparing people to Hitler and those things,” he added. “If that’s what’s required to win, then I refuse to.”
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Fetterman cautioned that inflammatory language is steering the country in the wrong direction, saying, “We’ve lost the plot.”
“I refuse to call my fellow citizens fascists or Nazis or those things,” Fetterman said. “If somebody wants to primary me or the party wants to vote me out, I’m going to go down being honest and telling you that this is wrong.”
Fetterman urged both parties to return to decency and cooperation, saying he’s willing to take political heat if it means standing up for his convictions.
“It’s just basic humanity and we’re forgetting that we all need each other,” he concluded.
