Fetterman opposes shutdown efforts as Democrats move to block ICE funding bill
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Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., said he doesn’t want another government shutdown as his Democratic counterparts try to block a bill that would fund immigration agencies like ICE, a move that raises the possibility of a shutdown.
Appearing on “Hannity” on Monday, the Democratic senator known for not toeing his party’s line discussed how Democrats voted against funding the Department of Homeland Security unless new guardrails are put in place for immigration enforcement tactics.
“If Democrats vote to close the facility, our entire military will no longer be paid again,” Fetterman said. “I could never support that.”
The senator said his opposition stemmed from the harmful consequences of the last government shutdown, which ended in November.
DEMOCRATS’ DILEMMA: PROGRESSIVE WORK TO ‘REMOVE THE ICE’ CAUSES A NEW DIVISION IN THE PARTY
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., speaks with a reporter as he arrives at the U.S. Capitol for the vote on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
“I remain a Democrat who at least refuses to shut down our government,” he told Fox News. “If this happens, our military will not be paid because a significant part of our government will shut down again.”
The fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by a federal agent in Minneapolis over the weekend galvanized Senate Democrats to oppose the funding bill; Fetterman acknowledged this development while expressing his sadness over the deaths of Pretti and Renee Good.
“We lost two American citizens. I don’t think anyone in America wants that,” Fetterman told host Sean Hannity.
ICE FUND SAVINGS ARE DRAWING INTO FIRE LEFT AND RIGHT AS CLOSURE DATE APPROACHES
A screenshot from a video shows a law enforcement officer spraying an irritant at Alex Pretti, who was fatally shot by federal agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on January 24, 2026. (Reuters)
Fetterman argued that these deaths should not be used to justify a government shutdown, as doing so would only increase the national damage.
Instead, he called for a broader discussion about reforms to immigration enforcement operations and ICE tactics.
“I’m actually hoping that we can have a discussion and make some common-sense reforms to ICE and make it safer, more humane, more effective and just focus on criminals,” Fetterman said.
Fetterman has made clear that he does not support defunding or cutting federal immigration agencies.
“I reject calls to defund or eliminate ICE,” he said. A post to X On Monday.
KEY SENATOR SAYS NOT FUNDING DHS AS ICE, FEDERAL AGENTS ENTER STATE
Federal and Border Patrol agents are surrounded by residents as they plan to flee after an immigration raid on Atlantic Boulevard. June 19, 2025 in Bell, California. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
At the same time, the senator said he strongly opposes ICE’s “strategies and practices” in Minneapolis and suggested they “need to change.”
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““We must all agree to deport all criminals who are here in our country right now,” Fetterman told Fox News.
““As a pro-immigration Democrat, I think we need to develop a path to citizenship for hard-working immigrants in the middle of this world,” he added.
