Top Democrat Defends Breaking Party Lines To End Government Shutdown

Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) is standing by his decision to break with his party and side with Republicans to end what became the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, saying Democrats went too far by letting millions of Americans suffer for political leverage.

“I think my party crossed a line,” Fetterman said Tuesday on Fox & Friends. The 42-day shutdown left a wide trail of disruption—SNAP benefits at risk for low-income families, thousands of federal employees without paychecks, and air travel snarled across the country. For Fetterman, the fallout went beyond politics.

“That was a red line for me that I can’t cross as a Democrat,” he added.

The stalemate officially ended Monday night when eight Senate Democrats joined Republicans to back a funding deal introduced by Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD). The bipartisan vote reopened the government and provided funding through January.

“That’s been the truth throughout it, and it’s only wrong to shut our government down,” Fetterman said, describing himself as “relieved” once the measure passed.

In exchange for ending the impasse, Republicans agreed to hold a mid-December vote on extending healthcare tax credits. Democrats had been withholding votes to pressure the GOP into expanding Affordable Care Act subsidies that are set to expire in 2025. The move has ignited internal turmoil within the Democratic Party. Several members of the Senate Democratic caucus have reportedly begun urging Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to step down, blaming his hard-line stance for prolonging the crisis.

Fetterman acknowledged the uncertainty about what comes next for his party. “No one really knows,” he said when asked about the Democrats’ direction moving forward.

The Senate’s approval of the funding package shifts the focus to the House, where lawmakers could vote as soon as Wednesday to finalize the agreement.

“That’s been described as country over the party,” said Fetterman. “My values are reflected in my vote and the things that I support here. And if that might put me at odds with parts of my party, I’m OK with that. I mean, we need to be a big party, a big tent party,” he said.

The Pennsylvania senator—who has increasingly cast himself as a pragmatic voice in a sharply divided caucus—insisted he has “no regrets” about his vote.

The prolonged shutdown had paralyzed much of Washington, freezing nonessential operations and deepening economic anxiety nationwide. Hundreds of thousands of federal workers were either furloughed or forced to work without pay. National parks, museums, and other public services were shuttered or scaled back, while ripple effects hit sectors ranging from defense contractors to small businesses dependent on government work.

At the core of the dispute were clashing visions for America’s fiscal future. Republicans, led by House conservatives, demanded deep spending cuts and tighter caps on future budgets. They argued that the nation’s $34 trillion debt demanded immediate action. Democrats, in turn, accused Republicans of holding the government hostage to score political points while endangering programs that millions of Americans rely on.

The stalemate’s economic toll was growing by the day—delays in federal permits and loans, shrinking consumer confidence, and mounting travel disruptions as unpaid TSA and FAA workers called out sick. Economists warned that a prolonged shutdown could dent growth heading into the new quarter.

By Monday, public frustration had reached a breaking point. Business groups, union leaders, and constituents across the country called on both parties to end the gridlock. Fetterman’s vote, alongside a small group of defecting Democrats, broke that impasse.