John Fetterman Praises Elon Musk For Offering To Pay TSA Salaries During Shutdown: ‘Should Never Come To This’
Democratic Sen. John Fetterman praised Elon Musk for offering to pay the salaries of TSA employees during the ongoing DHS shutdown, noting he continues to support ending it.
“This is incredibly generous. TSA agents across the country are relying on food pantries and community donations just to get by. I remain the lone Dem to vote with my Republican colleagues to fully fund DHS and get people paid. It should never come to this point,” Fetterman said in a social media publication.
This is incredibly generous.
TSA agents across the country are relying on food pantries and community donations just to get by.
I remain the lone Dem to vote with my Republican colleagues to fully fund DHS and get people paid.
It should never come to this point. https://t.co/MmUnAcdvIa
— U.S. Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) March 21, 2026
The shutdown continues in the meantime. NBC News reported on Friday that Senate Republicans sent Democratic counterparts a proposal regarding them seeking making changes to the department.
Sen. John Hoeven said Republicans “offered body cams, more training, limiting arrests for sensitive areas like churches and hospitals and so forth, schools,” so “Democrats need to come back to us now and talk to us about what they’re willing to do.”
The meeting took place after the Senate again failed to advance a bill funding the agency for a full year. Fetterman was the only Democrat to vote in favor.
Some of these decisions have put him at odds with other Democrats, including his vote to advance Markwayne Mullin’s nomination to become the next Department of Homeland Security secretary.
In fact, some are calling for his ouster in the next elections. “Once again Sen Fetterman shows why he is Trump’s favorite Democrat. He needs to go,” said Rep. Brendan Boyle, who also represents Pennsylvania. Axios detailed that he is rumored as a potential primary challenger of Fetterman, and while he has criticized him in the past, it is the first time he calls for his removal.
Axios noted that Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, also representing Pennsylvania, had urged her constituents to call Fetterman’s office and ask him to oppose the nomination. She reacted to the development at a town hall on Thursday, saying he has “more success” working with the other side of the aisle.
Fetterman was the lone Democrat to support the nomination, which made it through the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee by an 8-7 vote. Republican Sen. Rand Paul, who had a testy exchange with Mullin on Wednesday, voted against it.
Originally published on Latin Times
