With Hurricane Florence bearing down on the East Coast and mandatory evacuations ordered up and down the Atlantic seaboard, Congress is taking a wait and see approach to the schedule and has not ordered any changes so far.

“Due to the important nature of votes expected on the Floor and in committee this week — there are no changes to the House schedule at this time. We will continue to monitor Hurricane Florence and send further updates as needed,” a statement from the office of House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said Tuesday.

Congressional leadership staffers are monitoring the hurricane closely and  conferring with the National Weather Service as well, a GOP aide said. 

Because of Rosh Hashanah observances, the House and Senate were not scheduled to return to Washington for votes until Wednesday. 

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump declared his administration is 100 percent prepared for Hurricane Florence, the powerful storm headed toward the Carolinas.

“Everybody is ready,” he told reporters Tuesday as he deplaned Air Force One outside Washington. “We are absolutely totally prepared.”

Lindsey McPherson and John T. Bennett contributed to this report.