Nicole Malliotakis

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Standing at the entrance of the U.S. Coast Guard Sector New York in Fort Wadsworth on Friday morning, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis called on her fellow members of Congress to stop “the politics” and approve a bill that would re-open the Department of Homeland Security.

For weeks, Senate Democrats have reportedly stymied legislation passed by the House of Representatives to fund the agency through 2026, after previously saying they would block such a bill unless reforms were made within Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection.

“The agency is shut down at a time when there is a conflict in the Middle East, at a time when we’ve seen threats and almost a terrorist attack on our city — IEDs being thrown at protests at Gracie Mansion,“ said Malliotakis, a Republican who represents Staten Island and southern Brooklyn. “And what for? Why are they doing this? Quite frankly, it’s for political reasons. They’re not putting the public safety first.”

The legislation, H.R. 7744, Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2026, would provide funding for a litany of national security measures including customs enforcement, border protection, major disaster response and combatting the ongoing fentanyl crisis.

The impasse is keeping 100,000 federal workers from being paid, according to a press release issued by The White House. That includes members of the Coast Guard, TSA, FEMA, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

The bill was passed twice by the House of Representatives but has failed four times in the Senate; the latest vote failed on Thursday.

“We all know that we do not have agreement on how to deal with ICE. We know very simply that Democrats just want ICE to behave like any police department in America and use warrants and not wear masks,” said Senator Chuck Schumer, a Democrat who represents New York State, before Thursday’s failed vote, according to The Hill.

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, a Democrat who represents parts of Brooklyn, also has stated his opposition to passing the bill as is.

Democrats called for reforms amid public concern regarding ICE tactics, and after immigration enforcement officials shot and killed two U.S. citizens in Minnesota.

But Malliotakis said ICE agents are already being paid, and again accused Democrats of playing politics.

“They claim that this is about ICE. ICE by the way, those employees are getting paid. They are funded, because their funding came at the beginning, or, I should say over the summer in 2025.”

Heightened security risks

Malliotakis said she is “very concerned” for the city, noting that this year marks the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.

“This agency, the Department of Homeland Security, was created after Sept. 11,” Malliotakis said. “And now more than ever we need to make sure it is fully funded and operated.”

She went on to reference the FIFA World Cup and America 250 events that are scheduled to take place in and around New York City. She said it is “critical” that Homeland Security has the resources necessary to protect our nation.

Feds left ‘unequipped’: S.I. reps

Malliotakis was joined Friday by State Assemblymen Michael Reilly and Sam Pirozzolo, who also urged the Senate to support the legislation.

“This comment is really going to go directly to Senator Schumer: what’s your problem? You’re a New Yorker, you live here, you know about the safety, or the lack of safety we have in New York City,” said Pirozzolo, a Republican representing parts of the North Shore and Mid-Island.

Reilly, a Republican who represents the South Shore, said the funding supports how the government handles situations across the country.

He pointed to a string of attacks across the country that have taken place in recent days and explained that without the funding necessary, “we are leaving our men and women unequipped to really handle those things.”

Also in attendance were members of the Detectives’ Endowment Association, Captains Endowment Association, Lieutenants Benevolent Association, Sergeants Benevolent Association and The American Legion.

“It is completely unacceptable for Coast Guard members and their families to face the possibility of missing a paycheck,” said American Legion Richmond County Adjutant Frank LaMarsh. “Paid or not, these men and women will continue to carry out the vital missions entrusted to them.”

‘Republicans said no’: Schumer

On Thursday, the United States Senate Committee on Appropriations issued a press release placing the blame on Senate Republicans for blocking bills to fund parts of DHS.

“Right now, we could be paying TSA agents, funding FEMA before the next disaster hits, protecting our cyber defenses, and making sure the Coast Guard gets paid. But Republicans said no,” Schumer said.

“Democrats have tried—six separate times—to pass simple bills to keep these critical parts of DHS running while negotiations continue ... TSA officers shouldn’t miss paychecks, disaster relief shouldn’t be left hanging, and Americans’ safety shouldn’t be collateral damage in a political standoff Republicans created.”

Malliotakis was asked if she would support one of those bills.

“I would, but the reality is we need to fund the whole department; we can’t do this piecemeal,” she said. “I mean look, every aspect to the Department of Homeland Security is critical and I don’t think we should be picking and choosing, you know, based on who they politically think is necessary, I mean they’re all necessary.”