Fetterman Brutally Slams AOC Over The Spending Bill

Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) dismissed Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s (D-N.Y.) criticism of Senate Democrats backing a GOP-led spending bill to avoid a government shutdown. He challenged AOC and other progressives to offer a real alternative, emphasizing the damage a shutdown would cause to millions of Americans.

Key Facts:

Sen. John Fetterman supports passing the GOP spending bill to prevent a government shutdown.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other progressives claim Senate Democrats are betraying their House colleagues by supporting the bill.
Fetterman asked AOC what her plan would be after a shutdown, arguing it would harm millions while lawmakers like her continue receiving paychecks.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also supports the bill, saying the alternative would be worse for America.
Some Democrats, angered by Schumer’s stance, are calling for AOC to challenge him in a primary.

The Rest of The Story:

Fetterman, who has increasingly taken positions that align with Trump’s policies, dismissed Ocasio-Cortez’s criticism, making it clear that her opinion on the issue does not concern him.

He emphasized that shutting down the government would have severe consequences for workers and the economy, while politicians like AOC would still receive their salaries.

Ocasio-Cortez, speaking to reporters, expressed frustration with Senate Democrats who backed the spending bill, saying many House Democrats felt betrayed.

However, Schumer defended the decision, arguing that preventing a shutdown was the lesser of two evils and that allowing Trump more political leverage would be worse.

As tensions rise, some progressive Democrats are urging AOC to run against Schumer in a primary, though it remains unclear if she will seriously consider the challenge.

🚨BREAKING: Democratic Senator John Fetterman says “I’m not rooting against [President Trump] because if you're rooting against the President, you are rooting against the nation.”

Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/dpeEoS8p8r

— Save America 🇺🇲 (@SaveAmericaNew) March 13, 2025

Commentary:

Fetterman is right—government shutdowns don’t work.

They are an ineffective tactic that causes more harm than good.

There’s no real exit strategy, just as he pointed out.

Once the government is shut down, negotiations don’t suddenly favor the shutdown’s architects.

Instead, they face mounting public pressure to cave, and the political costs pile up.

AOC and other progressives pushing for a shutdown as leverage fail to acknowledge that the fallout lands hardest on regular Americans, not politicians.

Federal employees, service members, and contractors would go without pay, while essential services would be disrupted.

Meanwhile, lawmakers like AOC continue collecting their checks and using the chaos to score political points.

Fetterman may be a Democrat, but he’s showing signs of independent thinking and pragmatism.

Unlike some in his party, he recognizes that grandstanding doesn’t solve real-world problems.

His growing willingness to break with party orthodoxy suggests he may be one of the few Democrats willing to put governance over partisan theatrics.

The truth is, Washington is filled with politicians who love performative outrage but have no realistic solutions.

Shutting down the government won’t force policy changes—it never has.

The only way to make meaningful changes is by winning elections and passing laws, not by throwing a wrench in the system and expecting a different result.

The Bottom Line:

Fetterman challenged AOC’s calls for a shutdown, arguing that it would harm everyday Americans while achieving nothing.

His stance aligns with historical reality—shutdowns rarely produce the intended results and usually end with political embarrassment for those who push them.

While some progressives see betrayal, others may start seeing Fetterman as a rare Democrat willing to prioritize common sense over theatrics.