Malliotakis Urges GOP Unity as Two-Week Homeland Security Deadline Looms

By Alex Chen | Monday, 02 February 2026 12:49 PM EST

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., has called on congressional Republicans to maintain unity in advancing a budget package that would reopen the government and sustain Department of Homeland Security operations.

Speaking Monday, Malliotakis emphasized that President Donald Trump has indicated Republicans must support the funding legislation to secure additional negotiation time on critical security matters. “The President has been clear that he wants Republicans behind these spending bills because it provides them with two more weeks to negotiate the Homeland Security piece,” she stated. She warned that failure to fund the department within this timeframe would disrupt essential services, from TSA agents and Coast Guard operations to counterterrorism efforts and cybersecurity initiatives.

Malliotakis noted the legislation has remained largely unchanged since its passage through the House appropriations committee with bipartisan support, adding that it now faces resistance from Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries. “What we passed out of our appropriation committee via regular order and then passed already on the floor with bipartisan backing—now Hakeem Jeffries wants to play some type of game,” she said.

The representative accused Jeffries of refusing to vote for the bills despite prior support, stating Republicans would have to deliver all necessary votes “with Republican votes only.” Malliotakis further linked the debate to broader security concerns, arguing that constrained federal enforcement under previous administrations has already led to severe consequences. “Following President Trump’s departure from office, we witnessed a migrant crisis of epic proportions,” she said. “New York City streets were taken over by migrant gangs and drug traffickers, with criminal elements being housed in luxury hotel rooms—actions the Democratic Party has consistently supported.”

Malliotakis characterized Democrats as “the party of anti-law enforcement” and “defunding the police,” asserting that their platform has become synonymous with allowing criminals to “wreak havoc on our communities.”