In a rare moment of honesty from within the Democratic Party, Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania has broken ranks and called out his own party for prolonging the federal government shutdown. On national television, Fetterman admitted that Democrats “need to own the shutdown,” a statement that stands in sharp contrast to the usual partisan blame game we’ve come to expect in Washington.
This shutdown, now stretching into its third week, has already had serious consequences. Over 42 million Americans are at risk of losing access to SNAP benefits, the federal food aid program that helps keep low-income families from going hungry. Government workers are going without pay. Federal services, from veterans’ benefits processing to border security operations, are increasingly strained. For a country facing growing threats abroad and rising instability at home, this kind of gridlock is not just bad politics—it’s a national security risk.
The issue at hand, according to Fetterman, is a disagreement over Obamacare tax credits. While Democrats are pushing to expand these subsidies, they’ve chosen to tie that effort to the broader funding bill—effectively holding up the entire government to force their priorities through. Fetterman, to his credit, supports the tax credits in principle but says the tactic is “wrong.” He rightly points out that using a shutdown to make a political point only ends up hurting the very people Democrats claim to represent: working-class Americans, union members, and families living paycheck to paycheck.
This is a rare moment of clarity from a Democrat lawmaker. Fetterman is listening to the unions that have traditionally supported his party but are now demanding action to reopen the government. The American Federation of Government Employees, one of the largest public-sector unions in the country, is calling on both parties to pass a clean continuing resolution—meaning a bill that funds the government without adding any partisan demands.
AFGE President Everett Kelley made it plain: “No half measures, and no gamesmanship.” That message could just as easily be directed at the far-left elements in Congress who are choosing ideological purity over responsible governance.
This shutdown doesn’t just affect domestic programs. It sends a dangerous message to America’s adversaries. When our federal government can’t perform basic functions, like paying its workers or funding defense programs, it shows weakness. Our enemies—from China to Iran to North Korea—watch these moments closely. They see a divided America that can’t keep its own house in order. That perception alone can embolden foreign powers to test our resolve, whether through cyberattacks, pushing boundaries in the South China Sea, or escalating proxy wars.
Meanwhile, our allies become uncertain. If Congress can’t even pass a budget, how can they trust the United States to stand firm in a crisis or meet its commitments abroad? Weak leadership in Congress—especially from Democrats who would rather score political points than ensure the government functions—isn’t just a domestic problem. It’s a global one.
Senator Fetterman went further in his criticism by rejecting the toxic rhetoric that has become all too common in his party. He refused to label Republicans as “fascists” or “Nazis,” calling such language false and divisive. This is more than a matter of decency—it’s a step toward restoring the kind of civil discourse that’s necessary for any functioning democracy. Demonizing half the country doesn’t build bridges—it burns them.
In today’s political climate, it’s rare for a Democrat to speak with this kind of candor. But Fetterman’s comments underline a deeper truth: America cannot afford political gamesmanship, especially when the stakes involve feeding families and keeping the federal government running. President Trump and Republican leaders in Congress have already signaled their willingness to pass a clean funding bill. The question now is whether enough Democrats will join Senator Fetterman in putting the country first.
Until they do, the shutdown will continue—hurting Americans, weakening our global standing, and making us more vulnerable at a time when we can least afford it.