Washington — Text messages obtained by CBS News indicate that Senator John Fetterman has shown a lack of interest in fulfilling his duties to constituents, according to reports. The Wall Street Journal was the first to disclose these communications, highlighting that Fetterman has frequently ignored key responsibilities such as engaging with constituents, organizing events in Pennsylvania, and attending Senate hearings. A former staff member corroborated the findings of the Journal to CBS News.
In one notable instance, Fetterman allegedly claimed to be unwell to avoid a meeting with a group of paralyzed military veterans from his state, opting instead to appear on Fox News. Additionally, he reportedly declined requests to meet with representatives from a children’s hospital and bypassed attending the funerals of three police officers who were killed near his hometown, as revealed in a series of text messages from 2025 that were reviewed by CBS News.
A former aide remarked on Fetterman’s approach, saying, “It’s impossible to have any meaningful discussion with him about policy or strategy without it spiraling out of control.”
In the exchanged messages, Fetterman questioned a staff member about the necessity of meeting with representatives from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. When informed that their concerns centered on vaccinations and Medicaid cuts, Fetterman replied, “Well, I’m not,” later suggesting that he believed their motivation was to secure free trips to Washington, D.C.
Following the tragic deaths of three police officers in York, Pennsylvania, last year, Fetterman hesitated to attend their funerals, citing the expected duration of the ceremony. A staff member pointed out that Pennsylvania’s other senator, Republican Dave McCormick, was also choosing not to attend.
“The funeral will begin at noon and last at least three hours…” the staffer informed Fetterman.
“Three hours??” Fetterman replied.
“Yes, it’s a very formal ceremony and the equivalent of three separate funerals,” the staff member clarified.
“This may be a nonstarter,” Fetterman noted, also considering the lengthy drive of over nine hours.
Fetterman’s office did not respond to CBS News’ request for comment.
In the wake of the Wall Street Journal’s revelations, Democratic Representatives Chris Deluzio and Brendan Boyle from Pennsylvania criticized Fetterman’s behavior. Deluzio expressed strong disapproval, stating, “There is a lot I could say about this report of John Fetterman’s pathetic behavior as a Senator. But between the laziness, disrespect, and willingness to carry water for a foreign government, it shows us something we already know: this man has no sense of duty.” Boyle labeled Fetterman a “disgrace” and referred to him as a “lazy trust fund baby.”
Fetterman, a former lieutenant governor known for his casual attire of hoodies and shorts, was elected to the Senate in 2022. He secured the Democratic primary by aligning with the party’s progressive faction and overcame Republican candidate Mehmet Oz in the general election, despite suffering a stroke during the campaign.
Fetterman has at times diverged from his Democratic colleagues. Recently, he supported former President Trump’s stance on military action against Iran and was the only Democratic senator to oppose limiting Trump’s war powers regarding Iran. He has also clashed with party members during government shutdown negotiations, on the confirmation of Pam Bondi as attorney general, and while facilitating Markwayne Mullin’s nomination to head the Department of Homeland Security.
These disagreements have led to speculation about Fetterman potentially leaving the Democratic Party. Although he has dismissed the idea of switching parties in an op-ed, stating, “I’d be a terrible Republican who still votes overwhelmingly with Democrats,” he expressed that his threshold for leaving would be if the Democratic Party adopts an “anti-Israel” stance.
Caitlin Yilek contributed to this report.
