Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman is sounding the alarm as Congress faces the possibility of a partial government shutdown just as two dangerous storms approach the U.S. East Coast. With Hurricane Humberto recently peaking as a Category 5 storm and Tropical Storm Imelda still posing a threat, Fetterman says political brinkmanship could put American lives at risk.

“If you have a Cat 5 storm that’s now facing our nation, why would you even have that conversation right now?” Fetterman told Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures. “I sure [hope] things work out and we don’t shut our government down.”

John Fetterman Urges Action Ahead of Deadline

Unless Congress acts before 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, funding for fiscal year 2026 will lapse, forcing parts of the federal government to shutter.

Fetterman emphasized the potential impact on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which already has limited resources. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, while most FEMA employees continue working during shutdowns, funding restrictions could prevent the renewal or sale of critical flood insurance policies.

With FEMA funds “quickly running dry,” as Fetterman warned, even routine storm recovery efforts could become complicated.

The Political Standoff

The looming shutdown stems from partisan clashes over healthcare provisions. Democrats are pressing to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies and roll back GOP Medicaid reforms, while Republicans back a “clean” continuing resolution (CR) without concessions.

Fetterman stood out as the only senator to support both options. “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 said. “That is a core responsibility. I’m always going to vote against those things. And if it’s the Republican side or now it’s our side, I’m going to condemn it.”

A detailed breakdown of recent Senate votes is available at the U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes.

Trump Meeting with Leaders

Former President Donald Trump is also stepping in, agreeing to a last-minute meeting with top congressional leaders on Monday. Trump is expected to push for a deal to avoid the shutdown before also meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Fetterman, who has often broken with his party on foreign policy, praised Trump’s support for Israel. “Overall, I have been very pleased [with] the way the president has backed Israel,” he said. “I think I was the only Democrat that supported the [attack on the] Iranian nuclear facilities.”

Hurricanes Add Urgency

The National Weather Service reported that Hurricane Humberto, which briefly reached Category 5 strength on Saturday, has weakened to Category 4 and is tracking out to sea. Still, officials remain cautious as Tropical Storm Imelda lingers in the Atlantic.

For Sen. John Fetterman, the storms underscore the importance of not wasting time in Congress. “Why would you even have that conversation right now?” he asked, stressing that disaster preparedness should take precedence over political disputes.

U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 119th Congress - 1st Session

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