Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) unleashed a blistering attack on fellow Senate Democrats on Thursday, calling their push to block a GOP spending bill “total theater” and warning it risks plunging the U.S. into a partial government shutdown—and possibly a recession.
With federal funding set to lapse at midnight Friday, Fetterman’s rebuke shattered Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer’s claim of party unity against the House-passed continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government running through September.
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“Shut the government down, plunge the country into chaos, risk a recession or Exchange cloture for a 30 day CR that 100% fails,” Fetterman posted on X, arguing the House GOP’s CR will pass with just 51 votes if Democrats force a deadlock. “Total theater is neither honest with constituents nor a winning argument.”
Schumer, however, vowed Wednesday to withhold the eight Democratic votes needed to break the Senate’s 60-vote filibuster, teeing up a high-stakes showdown as only Fetterman has committed to backing the CR.
Fetterman, decrying his party’s “undignified antics,” insisted, “Voting to shut the government down will punish millions or risk a recession. I disagree with many points in the CR, but I will never vote to shut our government down.”
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On the GOP side, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) opposes the bill for sticking to Biden-era spending and dodging Trump’s efficiency cuts, leaving Republicans—who hold a 53-47 edge—short of the 60 votes without Democratic help.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) narrowly pushed the Trump-backed CR through Tuesday, 217-213, with lone Democratic support from Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME), who blasted his party’s “misinformation.”
Senate Democrats like Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) hit back, alleging the bill guts aid for the needy, while GOP Sens. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) and John Thune (R-SD) taunted a potential “Schumer Shutdown.”
With the clock ticking and no defections signaled beyond Fetterman, Friday’s deadline tests whether Democrats’ filibuster gamble—once a target of their own ire—crumbles the government or their credibility.
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