Senator John Fetterman from Pennsylvania has openly criticized his fellow Democrats regarding the recent government shutdown, emphasizing that deliberations on health care subsidies should only occur once government operations are secured.

Speaking at a live town hall event hosted by NewsNation at the Kennedy Center on Wednesday evening, Fetterman stated, “I prioritize my country before my party.”

He acknowledged that some constituents are upset with his stance on the shutdown and the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, which recently reached a ceasefire.

“I’m eager to engage in discussions about health care subsidies,” Fetterman remarked. “However, shutting down the government is detrimental to the nation, and I cannot support it.”

Fetterman was among three members of the Senate Democratic Conference who supported a Republican-led initiative to keep the government funded until November 21. He joined Senators Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada and Angus King of Maine, an independent who aligns with the Democrats, in this vote.

On Sunday, the Pennsylvania senator told Fox News’s Maria Bartiromo on “Sunday Morning Futures” that the shutdown has been “very isolating,” comparable to criticism he’s taken over his support for Israel.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said Wednesday that Senate Republicans would introduce a Pentagon spending bill on the floor on Thursday.

“We need to get the appropriations process going either way,” Thune told The Hill. “If we’re sitting around here voting every day and [Senate Democrats] keep voting to keep the government shut down, we need to be trying to move the needle on some of the other stuff that we need to get done.” 

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Democrats want to see what Republicans could add to the bill before they decide on a vote.