As two powerful storms loom over the US East Coast, Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., has issued a stark warning to his fellow Democrats against risking a government shutdown that could cripple disaster response efforts, the New York Post reported.
With a potential partial government shutdown looming after 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, Fetterman argues that political disputes over healthcare policy and FEMA funding must not hinder preparations for Hurricane Humberto and Tropical Storm Imelda.
Hurricane Humberto, initially classified as a Category 5 storm on Saturday, was downgraded to Category 4 by Sunday morning, according to the National Weather Service. Although its path is currently veering out to sea, the threat of severe weather remains a concern for coastal areas.
Tropical Storm Imelda also poses a risk, adding pressure on federal agencies to ensure readiness. Fetterman emphasized the critical timing, questioning why shutdown talks would even surface during such a perilous moment for the nation.
“If you have a Cat 5 storm that’s now facing our nation, why would you even have that conversation right now?” Fetterman said on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures.”
The looming deadline for fiscal year 2026 funding, which begins Oct. 1, has intensified congressional debates. If no agreement is reached by Tuesday night, a partial shutdown will disrupt government operations, including key disaster response mechanisms.
During a shutdown, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) would face significant limitations, such as being unable to renew or sell vital flood insurance policies. While most FEMA staff are expected to remain on duty, the agency’s dwindling funds could complicate emergency efforts for the approaching storms.
Fetterman, who has consistently opposed government shutdowns in the past, reiterated his stance against any funding lapse. “I’m at, where I have always been, and I will always remain on is, it is always, always wrong to shut our government down,” he stated.
“That is a core responsibility,” he added. “I’m always going to vote against those things.”
The current impasse in Congress stems from disagreements over healthcare policies. Democratic leaders are pushing for an extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies from the COVID-19 era, set to expire this year, and a reversal of Republican-supported Medicaid changes.
Meanwhile, Republicans favor a straightforward continuing resolution (CR) to maintain funding without policy concessions. The House passed the Republican-backed CR, but the Democratic version, which includes healthcare demands, failed to gain traction.
In the Senate, Fetterman stood out as the only senator to support both proposed stopgap measures over a week ago. Bipartisan support is essential, as a 60-vote threshold is required to pass any funding bill in the Senate.
Amid the escalating crisis, President Trump has scheduled a meeting with the top four congressional leaders on Monday to address the potential shutdown. Separately, Trump will also meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the same day.
Fetterman expressed approval of Trump’s ongoing commitment to Israel during these discussions. “Overall, I have been very pleased [with] the way the president has backed Israel,” he noted.
Additionally, Fetterman voiced frustration over international responses to the Gaza situation, though he hopes for a resolution on domestic funding issues. “I sure [hope] things work out and we don’t shut our government down,” he concluded.
