House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Andrew R. Garbarino (R-NY) addressed the House floor to support the rule for considering H.R. 7744, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been shut down since February 14 after Senate Democrats did not advance a bipartisan funding bill passed by the House, resulting in operational challenges and risks for DHS personnel.
Garbarino stated, “As Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, I rise today in support of the rule providing for consideration of H.R. 7744. As America faces heightened threats on U.S. soil and abroad, DHS is in the midst of its second major shutdown in six months because of Democrats’ political games. This lapse in appropriations means a disruption in our nation’s disaster preparedness, transportation security, and critical infrastructure resilience when we need it most.”
He continued, “As a lifelong New Yorker, I find it outrageous that DHS continues to be undermined by Washington’s dysfunction. Twenty-five years after the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil, I urge my Democrat colleagues to not forget why this Department was established in the first place.”
Garbarino highlighted that many DHS employees continue their work without pay while others have been furloughed: “As we speak, the vast majority of DHS personnel are once again continuing their essential missions to protect the American people without knowing when their next paycheck will be, while others have been furloughed, further undermining our preparedness.”
He added: “The frustrating reality is this was completely avoidable. House Republicans sent this bipartisan, bicameral deal on full-year DHS funding to the Senate nearly two months ago. This bill includes funding for body cameras, support for the DHS Office of Inspector General, additional resources for training, and new transparency and oversight requirements for ICE.”
Garbarino pointed out specific areas affected by blocked funding: “By holding this bill up in the Senate, Democrats are blocking funding for FEMA’s preparedness, response, and recovery efforts across the country. They are blocking funding for TSA ahead of major events like the World Cup. Democrats are blocking Coast Guard operations that we use to counter our adversaries. They are blocking funding for our cybersecurity workforce while Iran is attacking us daily in our cyber terrain.”
He concluded with an appeal: “The security of our homeland is not a partisan talking point—it is an American imperative. Holding DHS hostage when lives and livelihoods are on the line is reckless. I urge Democrats to show their Senate counterparts to support this bill and do the right thing.”
Earlier this year, six final appropriations bills were passed by the House as part of a bipartisan agreement which included full fiscal year funding for DHS initiatives such as body cameras and de-escalation training as well as resources intended to improve transparency through oversight from its Office of Inspector General.
The ongoing shutdown affects more than 250,000 department employees who may work without pay or face furloughs during lapses in government appropriations.
Committee hearings have featured testimony from leaders at agencies including ICE (U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement), CBP (Customs and Border Protection), USCIS (Citizenship and Immigration Services), FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), TSA (Transportation Security Administration), CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency), and U.S Coast Guard about how operational coordination suffers under these circumstances.
Law enforcement stakeholders from FIFA host cities also expressed concern over potential impacts from delayed federal funds during major events.
Statements from Republican members warned that lapses like these put national safety at risk.
