Chairman Garbarino Testifies Before Rules Committee in Support of Rep. Mackenzie’s DHS Resolution, Urges End to Shutdown

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- On day 39 of the Democrat shutdown, House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Andrew R. Garbarino (R-NY) testified before the House Committee on Rules in support of H.Res.1128, which was introduced by Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA). The resolution underscores the critical need to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and expresses deep gratitude for the tens of thousands of DHS employees who continue to safeguard the nation without pay during the lapse in funding. Senate Democrats continue to block funding for the department, even after House Republicans passed the bipartisan Fiscal Year 2026 DHS appropriations billin January and March.

Upon introducing this resolution, Rep. Mackenzie said, "Partisanship from the far left has put politics ahead of our national security and stripped frontline workers of their paychecks. At a time of heightened risk to our national security, it's critical that our nation's security apparatus is fully operational."

Read Chairman Garbarino's remarks before the Rules Committee below and watch here.

As prepared for delivery:

Thank you, Chairwoman Foxx and Ranking Member McGovern. We sit here today on day thirty-nine of an entirely preventable shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security. A shutdown that is disrupting our transportation security, our maritime security, our cyber defenses, our disaster response, our immigration enforcement, and our ability to detect and respond to domestic terror threats.

Those civil servants whose job it is to keep us safe are doing so without pay. The Coast Guard continues to protect our waterways, many without pay. The Secret Service continues its no fail mission, many without pay. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency continues to detect and deter malicious cyber actors, without pay. The Federal Emergency Management Agency continues its life-saving response work for natural disasters, many without pay. The Office of Intelligence and Analysis continues to collaborate across the Intelligence Community and with state and local governments to disrupt terror threats, without pay.

Critical support staff at Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement continue advancing their border security and immigration enforcement missions, without pay. And the Transportation Security Administration continues to protect and defend our airports and skies, without pay. There are more than one billion dollars in lost wages every month this drags on. This isn't an argument being made in the abstract.

Since the beginning of this shutdown, we have seen acts of violence across the country from Austin, Texas to West Bloomfield, Michigan, and ISIS-inspired attacks at Old Dominion University and in New York City.

We are getting closer to the largest sporting event in world history - the 2026 FIFA World Cup - and the largest nationwide celebration - America 250. These events cannot be rescheduled; they are happening whether we are prepared or not. If Democrats continue to keep the Department shut down, the threat against Americans during these events will only increase.

And we have started to see the catastrophic impacts of the Democrat shutdown on air travel. Just this past weekend, we saw major hubs in Houston and Atlanta with four-hour security lines. New Orleans and Baltimore faced three-hour security screening lines. And Philadelphia closed three security checkpoints due to unscheduled officer absences.

The TSA call-out rate is now routinely greater than ten percent every day - some more than 40 percent. When the first DHS appropriations bill was released, it was clear that "if we allow a lapse in funding, TSA agents will be forced to work without pay, FEMA assistance could be delayed, and the U.S. Coast Guard will be adversely affected. All while ICE continues functioning without any change in their operations due to $75 billion it received in the One Big Beautiful Bill." Not my words - the words of Appropriations Committee Ranking Member, Rosa DeLauro. Ms. DeLauro's words were true two months ago and are true today.

The Department of Homeland Security was created after the terrorist attacks of September 11, in direct response to the operational siloes among security agencies and general failures in coordination and information sharing. As a lifelong New Yorker and the representative of a community forever marked by the September 11 terrorist attacks, the mission of the Department is deeply personal for me. Twenty-five years later, its purpose is essential as ever.

The Department exists to ensure that all the agencies and personnel, are working together to accomplish their interconnected missions to protect, defend, and secure the homeland. The resolution introduced by the Gentleman from Pennsylvania, Mr. Mackenzie, simply supports all the civil servants working at the Department to keep us safe. The 3,373 DHS employees that live in Massachusetts. 3,869 in Pennsylvania. 3,112 in Colorado. And 2,428 in New Mexico.

Voting for this resolution is voting to support those people. It's voting to reassure all Americans that Congress will defend their safety and security. And it's voting to ensure this vital Department upholds its post-9/11 mission.

With your support, and the support of the House, we can work together to recognize these hardworking men and women and encourage these vital missions. I urge support of this resolution and welcome your questions.

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