Sen. John Fetterman Will Not Be Party To Shutdown ‘Mess’

Sen. John Fetterman is again at odds with fellow Democrats, this time over the ongoing partial government shutdown tied to funding for the Department of Homeland Security.

The Pennsylvania Democrat said Tuesday he opposes the standoff and has no interest in supporting efforts that keep parts of the government closed.

“I refuse to always vote to shut our government down, and I would never be a part of this mess,” Fetterman said during an appearance on America’s Newsroom.

Funding for DHS has been stalled since mid-February, with Democrats pushing for changes to Immigration and Customs Enforcement as part of any deal. Republicans have rejected those demands, along with Democratic proposals to fund individual parts of the agency—such as the Transportation Security Administration—separately.

Fetterman said the impasse is taking a direct toll on frontline workers, particularly TSA agents, who have now missed paychecks.

“They earn, on average, about $50,000 a year,” he said. “They rely on their paychecks. Now, even not being paid, they have to face those crowds.”

The shutdown has led to growing disruptions at airports nationwide, including major hubs in Atlanta, New York, New Jersey and Houston. With some agents calling out or seeking temporary work, long security lines have become increasingly common.

Fetterman argued there’s little justification for continuing the standoff, saying the burden falls squarely on workers and travelers.

“I just can’t imagine why we want to continue this,” he said. “Like the last shutdown, the only people who lose are the workers and America.”

As delays worsened, President Trump announced that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents would be deployed to assist at airports. In a post on Truth Social, Trump criticized Democrats for withholding funding and said ICE officers would help support TSA operations.

He also said those agents should not wear masks while working in airports, a point that has drawn criticism from some opponents of recent immigration enforcement tactics.

The funding dispute remains unresolved, with no clear timeline for when lawmakers might reach an agreement.