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Sen. John Fetterman is facing renewed criticism from fellow Democrats after a Wall Street Journal report detailed instances of the Pennsylvania senator allegedly skipping constituent meetings, Senate hearings and other official responsibilities.
Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Pa., called Fetterman “a disgrace” on X, accusing him of failing to do his job. Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Pa., also condemned the senator, saying the report showed a lack of “duty” and warning that Pennsylvania voters could respond when Fetterman is up for reelection in 2028.
The Journal reported that Fetterman has repeatedly declined meetings with constituents, including scheduled meetings in his Washington office. In one case, the report said he canceled a meeting with three paralyzed military veterans, citing feeling unwell, but appeared in his office shortly afterward for a Fox News interview.
The report also described Fetterman as frequently missing committee proceedings and having limited involvement in some constituent and public events.
The criticism adds to tensions between Fetterman and Democrats who once viewed him as a progressive standard-bearer. Since winning his Senate seat in 2022, Fetterman has shifted toward more centrist positions on several issues and become one of the Senate’s strongest supporters of Israel.
He also met with then-President-elect Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago in January 2025, further irritating some Democrats and progressives.
Fetterman’s political transformation has unfolded alongside his well-documented health struggles. He suffered a stroke during his 2022 Senate campaign and has publicly discussed his battle with severe depression. Those issues have previously drawn scrutiny of his ability to serve, though his office has maintained that he is capable of performing his duties.
Gun violence activist Shannon Watts also described a tense meeting with Fetterman, saying the senator focused on a social media post she had made about a Republican colleague. Watts said the interaction left her feeling that he was “an entirely different person” from before his stroke.
J.J. Abbott, a Democratic strategist in Pennsylvania, called the Journal report “deeply disturbing” but urged Democrats to focus on winning elections rather than Fetterman.
Adam Jentleson, Fetterman’s former chief of staff, also pointed to significant turnover in the senator’s office, noting that many of the staffers cited in the latest report are different from those who previously raised concerns about Fetterman’s conduct.
The backlash highlights Fetterman’s increasingly complicated relationship with his own party. Republicans have embraced some of his positions, while Democratic critics have become increasingly vocal about his conduct and political shift.
Fetterman’s Senate seat is not up for election until 2028, but the latest criticism could intensify questions about his future within Pennsylvania’s Democratic Party.
