Fetterman lone Democrat to support Homeland Security funding bill, as DHS shutdown looms
90.5 WESA | By Chris Potter, Associated Press
Published February 13, 2026 at 6:19 AM EST
Mark Schiefelbein
A shutdown for the Department of Homeland Security appeared certain Thursday as lawmakers in the House and Senate were set to leave Washington for a 10-day break and negotiations with the White House over Democrats' demands for new restrictions had stalled.
Pennsylvania's John Fetterman was the only Democrat to vote in favor of advancing a bill that would have provided a year's worth of funding to the agency. By a vote of 52 to 47, the bill failed to meet a 60-vote margin required to move forward. That made a Friday-night shutdown of numerous DHS agencies, including those that oversee airline safety and emergency relief efforts, all but certain.
Fetterman's vote came as little surprise: He has long said he opposes bills that would shut down the government. And while he has previously said that DHS Secretary Kristi Noem should resign, he has generally refrained from sharply criticizing federal immigration officers, instead praising their work to secure the border.
Fetterman's office did not respond to a WESA request for comment on his vote. But prior to the vote, he briefly took part in a Senate committee hearing to discuss the issue with DHS officials.
https://www.wesa.fm/politics-government/2026-02-13/fetterman-homeland-security-funding
