Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) is under fire following a Wall Street Journal report alleging he dodged a meeting with disabled veterans and dismissed concerns from a major children's hospital about Medicaid cuts. The report, published Wednesday, paints a picture of a senator who has been largely absent from public events in Pennsylvania for nearly a year and has shown reluctance to engage with constituents and colleagues on key issues.
According to the report, Fetterman canceled a scheduled meeting with three disabled veterans, allegedly by feigning illness. Shortly afterward, he appeared in good health during an interview with Fox News to discuss Israel and the conflict with Iran. The senator's office did not respond to requests for comment from The Hill.
Dismissive Messages About Children's Hospital
The report also detailed text messages from 2025 in which Fetterman questioned why he had to meet repeatedly with the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). When an aide explained that hospital officials were worried about vaccine funding and Medicaid cuts, Fetterman replied, “Well I’m not. I’m convinced they just want free trips to DC.”
These messages come as a Public Citizen report from March found that the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act, which included Medicaid funding cuts, threatened the viability of over 400 hospitals nationwide, potentially forcing closures or service reductions. Fetterman voted against that legislation, stating at the time, “I’ll keep fighting to protect health care.” The apparent contradiction between his public stance and private remarks has raised eyebrows among political observers.
Police Funeral Snub
The WSJ report also alleges that Fetterman backed out of attending a funeral for three police officers killed in the line of duty in North Codorus Township, Pennsylvania. In texts, he questioned the ceremony's length, writing “3 hours??” after an aide explained it was a formal event equivalent to three separate funerals. Fetterman responded, “This may be a nonstarter.”
The officers were killed while serving a warrant in a community not far from Fetterman's hometown, adding to the perceived insensitivity of his actions.
Committee Attendance and Silence
The report further notes that over the past year, Fetterman attended 26 of 31 full committee hearings but did not speak in 20 of them. This pattern of minimal engagement has fueled criticism that the first-term senator is not fully committed to his legislative duties.
Democratic Backlash
Pennsylvania Democrats have reacted with outrage. Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.) called Fetterman “a disgrace,” adding, “Our state deserves better than a lazy trust fund baby who is too lazy to do the job.” Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.) warned that “Pennsylvania will do something about it in 2028,” hinting at potential primary challenges, even though Fetterman is not up for reelection in this midterm cycle.
The controversy adds to Fetterman's already turbulent political trajectory, marked by health struggles and a shift toward more hawkish foreign policy positions. As Fetterman has ruled out opposing McCormick's 2030 reelection bid, questions about his effectiveness and commitment to Pennsylvania voters are likely to persist. The report also comes amid broader midterm polling showing Democrats leading on the economy, but such controversies could undermine that advantage. Meanwhile, a new DC monument honoring 41 million veterans serves as a backdrop to the criticism over his treatment of disabled veterans.
