Matt Gaetz Voted Against FEMA Funding Right Before Hurricane Helene Struck

Just one day before Hurricane Helene tore through Florida as a Category 4 hurricane, U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz of the Sunshine State was among several Republicans to vote against a stopgap measure that would continue funding the government and provide billions of dollars in extra disaster assistance.
The House of Representatives approved a continuing resolution on Wednesday, which extends Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding through December 20 and permits the agency to access those funds more quickly. But FEMA faces a multibillion-dollar deficit, even after imposing new spending restrictions last month—forgoing some ongoing rebuilding projects related to disaster repair to be better financially equipped to face immediate needs related to incoming disasters.
Hurricane Helene made landfall Thursday night as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph near Perry, Florida, in the state’s Big Bend region. The deadly storm delivered catastrophic flooding, devastating winds and life-threatening storm surge—to several states. More than 100 people have died, the Associated Press reported. Damage from the storm is expected to cost billions.
The House vote arrived as experts warn of natural disasters increasing in severity, including stronger hurricanes, prolonged drought and devastating wildfires. Several U.S. states are still recovering from disasters that wrought damage in past seasons, including the devastating wildfire that ravaged Maui, Hawaii, last year.
FEMA is rapidly running out of money to staunch the damage, even as it imposes the new restrictions, Politico reported.
This isn’t the first time Gaetz has voted against a continuing resolution that includes disaster relief funding. He also did so in 2022, just days after Hurricane Ian ravaged Florida. Despite his most recent vote, Gaetz promised that Floridians would still have support for Hurricane Helene damage, according to a report by ABC 3. When reached for comment, Gaetz’s office directed Newsweek to the ABC report.
“We were able to work together in a bipartisan way in the Florida delegation to get President [Joe] Biden to issue the national state of emergency that unlocks federal funding,” Gaetz said in the report. “And the office of management and budget does have the ability to move around some operations funds to ensure that the initial resources, particularly for debris removal, are achieved.”
“The checks will still come. The money will still be there,” he added. “There is work to do in Congress. And then go and backfill. But people should not be worried that we won’t have the ability to do things like individual assistance and support for our local governments.”
Gaetz shared a snippet of the interview to his profile on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday, two days after he voted against the continuing resolution that would provide more funding for FEMA.
“I worked with the Florida Congressional Delegation to secure federal funding for Hurricane Helene recovery,” Gaetz posted. “There will be resources and support for debris removal, individual assistance and our local governments.”