By Gloria

In a rare display of bipartisan cooperation, Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) and Sen. Dave McCormick (R-PA) appeared together in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, urging Congress to immediately end the ongoing government shutdown, which has now stretched into its 23rd day.

The joint message underscored both senators’ growing frustration with partisan gridlock and the mounting toll the closure is taking on Pennsylvania families, federal workers, and essential services.

The two senators—who come from opposite ends of the political spectrum—released a joint video message on social media, standing shoulder to shoulder in front of the U.S. Capitol. Their call to action struck a tone of unity and shared responsibility, signaling an uncommon moment of collaboration in an increasingly divided Congress.

“Here we are in Washington, D.C., and it is shut down,” Fetterman said, looking directly into the camera. “But now here it’s both Pennsylvania’s voice here in the U.S. Senate. Even though we are in different parties, we both want to talk about why we believe it’s so important to reopen this government.”

McCormick, who won his seat in 2024 after a tightly contested race, echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the human and economic cost of the shutdown.

“This shutdown is really starting to hurt Pennsylvania,” he said. “We’re talking about air traffic controllers, border patrol agents, and more than two million Pennsylvanians who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Twenty-three days, twelve votes Senator Fetterman and I have both voted to open the government. We agree on that 100%. We’ve got to get the government open. That’s our main responsibility, regardless of what party holds the majority.”

Fetterman added that the shutdown was no longer a partisan issue but a moral and practical one.

“Our votes are about country over party at this point,” he stated. “Two million Pennsylvanians rely on SNAP, and their assistance could stop any day now. We can prevent that. Let’s reopen this government and have an honest conversation about the next steps — like extending vital tax credits for working families. We may belong to different parties, but we’re on the same team for Pennsylvania and for America.”

McCormick nodded in agreement, closing their joint message with a simple but powerful line:

“Pennsylvanians expect it. Pennsylvanians deserve it.”

A Rare Bipartisan Moment

The public appearance comes at a time when Washington remains deeply polarized, and bipartisan gestures like this have become increasingly rare. Fetterman, a Democrat known for his unfiltered style and willingness to break with his own party, and McCormick, a Republican newcomer with a business and military background, have both faced political pressure from their respective bases.

Despite those pressures, both men framed their cooperation as an act of duty rather than defiance. For them, the focus was not political leverage, but practical governance.

“It’s wrong to shut our government down,” Fetterman said earlier this week in an interview with Fox News. “If I lose some support within my base for saying that, so be it. I’m not going to lie to Democratic voters and pretend this is acceptable.”

Fetterman’s Independent Streak

Fetterman’s willingness to publicly criticize members of his own party has earned him both praise and criticism. In September, he told CNN that shutting down the government would be “absolutely the wrong thing for Democrats to do,” warning that such tactics only create “massive chaos” for ordinary Americans.

His blunt remarks have reportedly caused friction among Pennsylvania Democrats, with some party insiders hinting at a possible 2028 primary challenge. Yet Fetterman has remained steadfast, insisting that his loyalty lies with Pennsylvania voters, not party leadership.

Since President Donald Trump returned to office in 2025, Fetterman has surprised many by supporting several of Trump’s nominees and even voting in favor of the Laken Riley Act, a Republican-led bill aimed at deporting violent illegal immigrants who commit crimes. “If something’s good for my state, I’ll back it — no matter who proposed it,” he told reporters in September.

McCormick’s Bipartisan Outreach

For McCormick, the joint appearance also signals a strategic effort to build credibility beyond his Republican base.

A former hedge fund CEO and U.S. Army veteran, McCormick has sought to position himself as a pragmatic conservative willing to collaborate with Democrats when necessary. Since taking office, he has emphasized fiscal discipline, national security, and economic opportunity for working families, while also expressing openness to bipartisan solutions on infrastructure and veterans’ issues.

In Thursday’s video, his message was clear: the government shutdown is hurting real people, and both parties share the blame — and the responsibility to fix it.

The Shutdown’s Growing Toll

The current government shutdown, now over three weeks long, has left hundreds of thousands of federal workers either furloughed or working without pay.

In Pennsylvania, agencies such as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have reported severe staffing shortages. Funding delays are also threatening SNAP benefits, housing assistance, and child nutrition programs statewide.

Economists warn that the prolonged closure could trigger ripple effects across the state’s economy, disrupting everything from airport safety to food distribution networks.

United for Pennsylvania

Despite their political differences, both Fetterman and McCormick agreed that the people of Pennsylvania should not have to bear the burden of Washington’s dysfunction.

“This isn’t about Republicans or Democrats,” McCormick said. “It’s about doing our jobs.”

Fetterman nodded and added, “Pennsylvanians sent us here to work for them, not to watch Washington self-destruct. It’s time to open this government and get back to serving the people who make our country work.”

As the shutdown continues into its fourth week, their joint call has sent a clear message: at least two members of the U.S. Senate — one Democrat and one Republican — are still willing to put politics aside for the sake of the people they represent.

Source Breitbart