House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Andrew R. Garbarino (R-NY) addressed the House floor today to advocate for consideration of H.R. 7744, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act for 2026. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been shut down since February 14 after Senate Democrats declined to move forward with a House-approved, bipartisan funding bill.
Chairman 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 added that he finds it “outrageous that DHS continues to be undermined by Washington’s dysfunction,” referencing his background as a lifelong New Yorker and invoking the memory of the terrorist attacks twenty-five years ago that led to DHS's creation.
Garbarino continued, “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 called this situation “completely avoidable,” noting that House Republicans sent what he described as a bipartisan agreement for full-year DHS funding to the Senate nearly two months prior. He outlined provisions in the bill such as funding for body cameras, resources for training and oversight at ICE, and support for FEMA’s disaster response efforts.
“By holding this bill up in the Senate,” Garbarino said, “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: “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, according to committee records, the House passed several final appropriations bills—including one providing full fiscal year funding for DHS—which included money earmarked for body cameras and deescalation training at DHS agencies such as ICE and additional resources for transparency through its Office of Inspector General.
During shutdowns like this one—affecting over 250,000 employees—many personnel must continue working without pay while others face furloughs. Congressional Republicans from both committees responsible have publicly criticized Senate Democrats’ actions over concerns about national safety risks.
At recent committee hearings featuring leaders from agencies including ICE, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), FEMA, TSA, Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and U.S. Coast Guard expressed concerns about how shutdowns impact interagency coordination and hinder core operational capabilities—especially with upcoming high-profile events requiring federal coordination.
