Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) heads to the Senate Chamber for a vote at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on May 10, 2023. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Sen. John Fetterman said Wednesday night that activist pressure within his own party is prolonging the partial Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown, offering his observations from within the Democratic caucus for why the standoff has stretched into its sixth week.
Appearing on Fox Newsâ âHannityâ on March. 25, the Pennsylvania Democrat said ongoing protests against the Trump administrationâsuch as the âNo Kingsâ rallies nationwideâhave left some senators unwilling to vote to restore DHS funding. He said they âmight be afraid to reopenâ the government because demonstrators are pushing demands that he said were never achievable.