John Fetterman backs Coast Guard while slamming DHS shutdown: ‘It only hurts our workers’

WASHINGTON, DC: Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) took the side of the US Coast Guard as they continue to work despite not getting paid amid the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown. He claimed that America is “losing” as the appropriated funding for the DHS has been halted.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Fetterman shared a screenshot of an article about the Coast Guard. He wrote, “The Coast Guard saved an injured man from the wilderness and isn’t getting paid. I voted to pay those heroes. Shutting DHS down has no functionality on ICE or any reforms. It only hurts our workers and America loses.”

Coast Guard focusing on 'national security' operations

The 56-year-old politician’s post came as Lt. Krystal Wolfe, a spokeswoman for the Coast Guard, reportedly said that the agency “is focusing on those operations authorized by law that provide for national security or that protect life and property.”

Wolfe further noted that the coast guard would be performing its duties of responding to oil spills and hazardous chemical releases and “maintain safe and secure waterways.”

Kristi Noem blasts Democrats over DHS shutdown

Besides, a press release by the department shared that “after a week of being shutdown by Congressional Democrats, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced it must take emergency measures to preserve limited funds and personnel to mitigate the national security and public safety damage at the hands of Congressional Democrats.”

Also, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem slammed Democrats while noting, “Shutdowns have real world consequences, not just for the men and women of DHS and their families who go without a paycheck, but it endangers our national security.”

“The American people depend on this department every day, and we are making tough but necessary workforce and resource decisions to mitigate the damage inflicted by these politicians,” she added.

Dems clashed with Republicans over ICE

The DHS shutdown began over a week ago after tensions between Trump’s administration and Democrats in Congress grew.

On February 4, Democratic lawmakers sent a letter to Republican leadership amid the ICE crackdown that even saw the deaths of two Americans — Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti.

The letter read, “Federal immigration agents cannot continue to cause chaos in our cities while using taxpayer money that should be used to make life more affordable for working families,” as it demanded “targeted enforcement, no masks, stop of racial profiling” among many.

Though the White House and congressional Republicans agreed to some demands, they did not accept the unmasking of agents, ending random searches, and cracking down on warrant requirements.