Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) made headlines over the weekend when he said that the Democratic Party should “own the shutdown” as the federal government remains closed for the second month in a row. His comments came during an interview on CNN’s State of the Union with host Jake Tapper.
Fetterman was asked about the lapse in funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which officially ran out on November 1. That means around 42 million Americans — including roughly two million people in Pennsylvania — won’t be getting their food stamp benefits this month. When asked who was responsible, Fetterman said that Democrats needed to take responsibility.
“I feel like the Democrats really need to own the shutdown. I mean, we’re shutting it down,” he said. His comments came after Tapper laid out the situation and asked who he believed was to blame. The White House, still under Democratic control in certain areas despite President Trump’s administration, had blamed the situation on funding disputes. At the same time, Democrats had pointed fingers at the Trump administration for not tapping into contingency funds to keep SNAP going — something they claim the administration is allegedly withholding to pressure Democrats into ending the standoff.
Fetterman, however, didn’t try to dodge responsibility. “I know why they claim — because they want to address the tax credits, and I fully support that. I voted for all of their CRs, our CRs, every single time. And I refuse to put 42 million Americans in the kinds of food insecurity,” he said. He emphasized that the easiest fix is to simply reopen the government.
The shutdown, which began over a standoff on spending bills, has now stretched well into November with no clear resolution in sight. Both sides of the aisle have been blaming each other. Some Democrats want expanded tax credits and more social program funding, while Republicans are pushing for budget cuts and reductions in government spending, particularly in areas they say have ballooned over the past few years.
Fetterman also talked about the ripple effects of the shutdown. He mentioned that airlines and unions are pushing for an end to the closure, saying that extended shutdowns are allegedly affecting flight safety and worker stability. “Do we really want to make flying less safe by forcing this kind of situation and making things that much more stressed?” he asked.
Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman on who he blames for the shutdown:
FETTERMAN: “I feel like the Democrats really need to own the shutdown. I mean, we’re shutting it down.” pic.twitter.com/ywSPMlJVwL
Should Democrats take responsibility for the government shutdown?— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) November 2, 2025
While it’s rare to see a sitting senator speak so directly against his own party, Fetterman has taken a somewhat untraditional path before. In previous interviews, he’s been known for plain talk and unexpected comments that don’t always follow party lines. His remarks on Sunday could increase pressure on Democratic leadership in the Senate to consider compromise measures to reopen the government.
As the shutdown continues, everyday Americans are feeling the squeeze. From missed SNAP benefits to stalled federal paychecks and travel disruptions, the effects are starting to stack up. The question now is whether more lawmakers will follow Fetterman’s lead and start pushing for a resolution — even if that means their own side has to take some of the blame.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance have not issued any new public statements on the matter in recent days. The administration continues to hold its position that the funding dispute lies with Democratic leaders in Congress. Negotiations reportedly remain stalled behind closed doors.
Whether Fetterman’s comments will spark movement or simply more finger-pointing remains to be seen. But his words are already being used by critics to argue that even Democrats now admit where the shutdown started.
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