Malliotakis Calls On Schumer & Jeffries to Fund DHS Amid Rising Security Threats

March 13, 2026

(STATEN ISLAND, NY) — Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) was joined by local elected officials, NYPD police unions and members of the American Legion as she called on Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries to stop playing games with our national security and provide the votes necessary to reopen and fully fund the Department of Homeland Security. Fully funding DHS will ensure our Coast Guard, TSA, and law enforcement officers are paid and that critical security initiatives remain in place to keep our nation safe, particularly in light of the attempted attack by ISIS-inspired terrorists in New York City.

In January 2026, House Republicans passed the full-year Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bill negotiated and agreed upon by both House and Senate Appropriators. However, House and Senate Democrats backed out of this deal forcing a shutdown of DHS operations critical to the safety and security of the American people. Agencies such as the Transportation Security Administration and the Federal Emergency Management Agency are only performing the most essential functions and Coast Guard personnel are currently serving without pay.

Last week, the House passed H.R. 7744, Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2026, which provides:

$64.4 billion in discretionary funding, including $3 billion for defense activities, to protect the homeland and keep American communities safe, secure, and resilient.
$6.3 billion in discretionary appropriations that are offset by fee collections and $26.37 billion as an allocation adjustment for major disaster response and recovery activities.
Ends programs that incentivize illegal immigration.
Bolsters border protections by providing $513 million to sustain 22,000 Border Patrol agents and $3.8 billion for custody operations to strengthen the Administration’s efforts to detain and deport all criminal and removable aliens.
$116 million to counter China by increasing the Coast Guard’s Indo-Pacific footprint while also funding a military pay raise for Coast Guard servicemembers.
Enhances resources to detect and counter the spread of deadly drugs, like fentanyl, that poison our communities.

“Just last week, House Republicans once again took action and passed legislation to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security and ensure the men and women protecting our country are paid. Despite four Democrats joining us in the House, Senate Democrats continue to block this critical funding, putting politics ahead of the safety and security of the American people. At a time when threats against our homeland remain real — especially here in New York — Congress should be focused on supporting the Coast Guard, TSA agents, and law enforcement officers who keep us safe," said Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis.

"This is not a time for partisan politics, we're all New Yorkers and we're all Americans. This has really got to stop. You need to pass these bills to get this funding to our men and women who are going without paychecks," said Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo. "These are families whose lives are being interrupted time and time again."

"This funding it really supports how we handle things not only here in New York but across the country. What's really impacted? Technology support from the federal government to our local law enforcement, to our fusion centers where vital information is shared. Without that support without that grant funding, our men and women in the field can't do their job." said Assemblyman Mike Reilly.

“Today we join Congresswoman Malliotakis in requesting that Democratic leadership in Washington uphold our national security by ensuring that the necessary votes are cast to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security. The public safety of New Yorker’s cannot be used as a bartering chip within their political game. In the midst of recent terrorist attacks carried out by ISIS-inspired terrorists in NYC, this is no time to play politics. The United States Coast Guard, TSA, and law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line on a daily basis deserve to be paid for doing so. Securing the safety of our nation must never become a partisan issue," said Assemblyman Michael Tannousis.

"The United States Coast Guard is an integral part of our nation's national security and homeland defense. At a time when the United States faces one of our highest levels of risk in decades due to ongoing global events, it is completely unacceptable for Coast Guard members and their families to face the possibility of missing a paycheck," said Frank LaMarch, American Legion.

View full press conference HERE.