Government Shutdown Threatens Emergency Response Amid Unprecedented Winter Storm

By Alex Chen | Monday, February 23, 2026

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.) warned Friday that the ongoing partial government shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security is harming critical national security and emergency response functions as a powerful winter storm batters the Northeast.

The shutdown, which entered its second week after lawmakers failed to agree on DHS funding, has already led to the suspension of some programs and strained federal operations. Malliotakis said she had heard from constituents in New York enduring difficult conditions as the storm brings heavy snow, high winds, and travel disruptions. Residents and staff described conditions as “brutal,” stressing the importance of safety during severe weather.

“But it is really an unprecedented storm,” Malliotakis added. “For the last few years, we haven’t had a significant storm like this. And let’s see if the mayor learned from the mistakes of that first storm, and we’ll see things run a little more smoothly.”

Her remarks come as the DHS shutdown has caused operational disruptions, including the brief suspension and reinstatement of TSA PreCheck and the suspension of the Global Entry program due to funding gaps. Essential employees at FEMA and the TSA are working without pay, while many nonessential functions have been paused.

Malliotakis criticized Democratic leaders for politicizing the shutdown and urged swift action to restore full operations. “This is a really important point we’ve warned about for weeks,” she said. “A shutdown, even though Democrats want to make this political and simply about Ice, affects much more than that—it impacts the Department of Homeland Security.”

She emphasized that critical components like FEMA, the Coast Guard, TSA, and ICE are affected by the funding lapse. “We need to remember these federal employees who are dedicated,” Malliotakis said. “Whether they work at FEMA, in the Coast Guard, at TSA, or as Ice agents, they’re working right now without being paid come the first of the month. We thank them for their service.”

Malliotakis also directly appealed to House Democrat Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Democrat Leader Chuck Schumer to end the standoff. “We hope that Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer will come to their senses and end this,” she said. “Even though they’ve tried to make this about Ice, and ICE has funding right now to continue its work, what they’re really doing is affecting counterterrorism, cybersecurity, and emergency management.”

She warned the shutdown could undermine security at major events this year, including the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks and the upcoming FIFA World Cup, which will take place across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico in summer. “There are many security issues that need to run smoothly,” Malliotakis said. “And they can’t operate at maximum capacity if the shutdown continues.”

Congress returned to Washington Monday with lawmakers under pressure to pass funding legislation and end the shutdown as severe winter weather impacts the Northeast.