Fetterman Says He Was ‘Shocked’ When Biden Lifted Title 42, Calls Border a ‘Serious Failure’ for Democrats

The Senate Democrat said he still does not know why the Biden administration ended the pandemic-era border policy, which he publicly opposed lifting in 2022.

Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) leaves the Senate floor at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on July 15, 2025. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) said this week that he was “shocked” when the Biden administration lifted Title 42 and still doesn’t know why the decision was made.

“I was shocked when they dropped Article 42,” Fetterman said during an appearance on the All-In podcast released on Wednesday. “In my primary ... we all ran on that. That wasn’t controversial. I was stunned when they dropped that.”