Chairman Garbarino: Schumer Shutdown Undermines Our Homeland Security

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Andrew R. Garbarino (R-NY) issued the following statement on how Senate Democrats' government shutdown will impact the Department of Homeland Security (DHS):

"Senate Democrats' decision to shut down the government in order to score cheap political points--while not surprising--is incredibly disappointing given its implications for our homeland security. Amid heightened threats from America's adversaries, a lapse in government funding will dangerously undermine the Department of Homeland Security's core mission to protect the American people. Failure to pass the responsible continuing resolution put forward by House Republicans would force our frontline law enforcement and homeland security personnel, like TSA Security Officers, to work without pay. It would also allow critical security tools to lapse, including the protections provided for public-private sector cybersecurity information sharing and cyber grants for state and local government entities, as well as the authority for federal agencies to take down malicious drones in U.S. airspace. I encourage Democrats in the Senate to reconsider their miscalculated opposition to a clean CR and put the safety of the American people first. Once Democrats are back at the table, I look forward to working with my House and Senate counterparts on a longer-term solution to enhance these essential tools to better meet the moment and stay ahead of the evolving threat landscape."

Background:

Several DHS authorities will expire on September 30, 2025, including Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System (CUAS) authorities for federal agencies, the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015, the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (CGP) and Tribal CGP, the National Cybersecurity Protection System, and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Reimbursable Screening Services Program.

Short-term extensions of these critical authorities are necessary for continued work on long-term legislative solutions to move through regular order. This month, the House Committee on Homeland Security unanimously advanced Chairman Garbarino's legislation, the "Widespread Information Management for the Welfare of Infrastructure and Government Act" (WIMWIG Act), which would reauthorize and enhance the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015, a crucial framework for voluntary information sharing between the public and private sectors on cyber threats. The Committee also advanced Rep. Andy Ogles' (R-TN) legislation, the "Protecting Information by Local Leaders for Agency Resilience Act" (PILLAR Act), which would reauthorize and enhance the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP) to help state, local, tribal, and territorial governments prepare for and defend against cyber threats.

In August, Chairman Garbarino, Ranking Member Bennie Thompson (D-MS), House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO), Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA), and House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (D-MD) introduced the bipartisan "Counter-UAS Authority Security, Safety, and Reauthorization Act of 2025."

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