A bombshell Wall Street Journal report says Senator John Fetterman skipped a funeral for fallen police officers while checking out of basic Senate work.
Quick Take
- The Wall Street Journal talked to more than a dozen former staffers and lawmakers who describe Fetterman as disengaged from his job.
- The report says Fetterman missed official duties, including a funeral for York, Pennsylvania, police officers.
- A former staffer said “it’s pretty impossible to overstate how disengaged he is.”
- Fetterman calls the report “a bizarre smear campaign” and says he attends 90 percent of votes.
- Pennsylvania voters and politicians are now asking if Fetterman will even run again in 2028.
Bombshell Report Exposes an Absentee Senator
The Wall Street Journal built its report on interviews with more than a dozen former staffers and lawmakers. The paper also reviewed text messages and internal records. It found that Fetterman “shows little interest in doing the job” beyond building ties with conservative media figures and pushing support for Israel.
That is a stunning claim about a sitting United States senator. Pennsylvania voters sent Fetterman to Washington to represent them on jobs, crime, and border security. Instead, the report paints a picture of a lawmaker who picked a few pet causes and let the rest of the job slide.
Senator Skipped Funeral for Fallen Police Officers
One of the most jarring details involves law enforcement. The investigation found Fetterman was absent from official duties, including a funeral for York, Pennsylvania, police officers. For a party that claims to back the men and women in blue, skipping a fallen officer’s funeral sends a clear message about priorities. Families who serve and sacrifice deserve better than an empty chair from their own senator.
The report also describes a senator who avoids his colleagues on Capitol Hill. Staffers told the Inquirer that Fetterman spends long hours alone in his office and skips meetings with fellow lawmakers. One recently departed staffer put it bluntly: “It’s pretty impossible to overstate how disengaged he is. He doesn’t read memos, he’s taking very few meetings”.
Staffers Describe a Senator Who Checked Out
These are not anonymous internet critics. These are people who worked directly inside Fetterman’s own office and watched the routine of governing fall apart up close. Canceled meetings and an absent boss do not just hurt Fetterman’s public image. They hurt Pennsylvania families who need a senator fighting for them on energy costs, crime, and the border.
The Journal also reported Fetterman met privately with Attorney General Pam Bondi during the presidential transition, showing he can make time for relationships that interest him. That detail undercuts any excuse that he simply has no bandwidth for Washington’s daily grind.
Fetterman Fires Back at Critics
Fetterman is not taking the report quietly. He calls it “a bizarre smear campaign” and insists he is doing his job. “I am present. I am fulfilling my responsibilities. I am advocating on all those matters and participating in those significant votes. I’ve consistently been there,” he said.
Sen. John Fetterman largely checked out from Senate work per new WSJ report (based on interviews with more than a dozen former staffers and lawmakers, plus internal texts and records)
· Canceled a long-awaited meeting with three paralyzed military veterans in wheelchairs who… https://t.co/nl5yw2Kffa
— The Cross Wire Daily (@dailycrosswire) September 5, 2026
Fetterman also points to his voting record, saying he attends 90 percent of Senate votes and that most misses fall on Monday travel days because he has three young children. His office highlights committee work on agriculture, commerce, and oversight as proof he stays active. Voters can weigh his defense against the staffers who watched him up close.
What Comes Next for Pennsylvania’s Senator
This is not the first time Fetterman’s attendance has drawn scrutiny. In 2025, the New York Times reported he was often absent from the Senate and said he had been “shamed” into returning to hearings and votes. Now the new report has renewed questions about whether he will even seek reelection in 2028 as Pennsylvania voters take stock of his record.
Pennsylvania families deserve a senator who shows up, reads the memos, and fights for their interests every single day. This report gives voters real evidence to judge whether Fetterman is still doing that job or has simply moved on to other priorities.
Sources:
mediaite.com, politicalwire.com, wsj.com, pennlive.com, cnbc.com, nytimes.com, fetterman.senate.gov
