Sen. John Fetterman Faces Criticism After Supporting Shutdown Deal That Excluded ACA Subsidy Extension

Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman is under growing scrutiny after voting in favor of a bipartisan agreement that brought an end to the 35-day federal government shutdown, but did not include an extension of the expanded Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies set to expire at the end of the year.

The shutdown, which had halted services across multiple federal agencies, affected air travel operations, delayed Social Security customer support, and placed pressure on federal employees working without pay. The bill to reopen the government passed with support from both parties, including Fetterman and seven other senators seen as key to breaking the stalemate.

What the Bill Did — and What It Didn’t

The legislation restored government operations immediately, returning federal workers to their posts and reopening temporarily shuttered agencies. However, one of the major sticking points during negotiations — the continued funding of enhanced ACA subsidies — was left out of the final deal.

Those temporary subsidies, first expanded in 2021, have helped reduce health insurance premiums on ACA marketplaces by an average of about 40% for millions of low- and middle-income Americans. Without a renewal, many families are expected to see sharp increases in monthly healthcare costs beginning January 1.

Critics Say Fetterman Broke a Core Campaign Promise

Fetterman campaigned heavily in 2022 on expanding access to affordable healthcare, including vocal support for universal coverage and lower prescription drug costs. Because of that, some online critics — particularly on the platform X — have accused him of stepping away from his stated priorities.

Several posts pointed out that Fetterman has spoken publicly about his own ongoing health challenges following his 2022 stroke, arguing that he should be especially motivated to safeguard affordable care.

One widely shared message read:

“If you say healthcare is a human right, you don’t vote away cost protections when people need them most.”

Others defended Fetterman, noting that the immediate reopening of the government prevented further harm to everyday workers and families.

Supporters Argue It Was a Necessary Compromise

Those backing Fetterman’s vote say the senator made a pragmatic decision to end a shutdown that was already harming essential functions across the country. They argue that negotiations on healthcare subsidies are still ongoing, and could appear in separate legislation later this year.

Policy analysts also noted that attempting to attach the subsidy extension to the shutdown bill risked dragging negotiations out even longer — possibly by weeks.

What Happens Next

Congress now faces a tight timeline. Lawmakers have just weeks to address the subsidy issue before the current assistance expires. One possible path includes:

• Adding the subsidy extension to an end-of-year budget bill

• Introducing a standalone healthcare measure

• Or, attempting to negotiate a narrower, short-term extension to avoid premium spikes

Failure to act would likely result in significantly higher insurance costs for millions of Americans starting in January.

Bottom Line

Senator Fetterman helped bring an end to a prolonged and damaging government shutdown.
However, by voting for a deal that did not include an ACA subsidy extension, he is now facing pressure from progressive voters and healthcare advocates who say the decision abandoned one of his signature campaign priorities.

The coming weeks in Congress will determine whether the subsidy protections can still be restored — and whether the political damage to Fetterman will continue to grow.