Congress passed a stopgap spending bill on September 25 to keep government agencies funded into December and avoid a shutdown.

All 11 Florida House Republicans who voted against keeping the government — and FEMA — funded last month just days later signed a bipartisan letter addressed to Biden calling for “direct federal assistance” to the state in the wake of Hurricane Helene.

For the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the arrival of Hurricane Milton comes at a precarious moment. The agency tasked with coordinating federal disaster relief is not only already dealing with the massive damage left behind less than two weeks ago by Hurricane Helene in states like North Carolina,

FEMA is preparing for Milton's landfall while still responding to Helene's devastation. But Administrator Deanne Criswell says "FEMA is ready."

A group of Florida Republicans were among those who recently voted against the government funding extension bill which, among other things, sought to provide additional necessary funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Hurricane Milton was expected to make landfall on Florida’s west coast late Wednesday, but ahead of making landfall, the Category 3 storm produced a series of seven tornados that hit the Sunshine State.