Staten Island Rep Urges Senate To End Shutdown, Pay Servicemembers

Malliotakis, Veterans Gather at NYC Military Installations Urging Senate to End Shutdown & Pay Servicemembers

Editor’s note: We’ve been covering this shutdown as it continues to drag on into a third week, with servicemembers and other government employees still waiting for their paychecks, making it difficult for them to pay their rent and other bills. Avoiding eviction is a real concern. The longest government shutdown ever was back in 2018, during President Trump’s first term.   Senators have said they’re willing to negotiate, but several of their demands, particularly those related to ACA subsidies, are non negotiable. On Monday, representatives from several local nonprofits rallied at Rep. Malliotakis’ office to request that she help ensure that the ACA tax credits, which are essential for many of her constituents, be included as part of any resolution. We will be covering that event later this week. 

Interestingly, President Reagan oversaw the most shutdowns (EIGHT in total), but each lasted only two or three days. President Carter, conversely, oversaw five shutdowns in total, but they lasted quite a while, with one going on for 17 days. 

(NEW YORK, NY) – Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis joined New York City veterans at Brooklyn’s U.S. Army Garrison–Fort Hamilton and Staten Island’s U.S. Coast Guard–Sector New York to call on Democratic members of the U.S. Senate including New York’s own Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand to pass a clean continuing resolution that will reopen the federal government, ensure servicemembers receive their paychecks on time, and end the unnecessary pain this shutdown is inflicting on families, small businesses, and the economy.

“We still find ourselves in a government shutdown because Senate Democrats, led by our own Senator Chuck Schumer, are refusing to pass the exact same funding bill with the same language and levels they’ve supported before,” said Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis.

“It’s time for Senate Democrats to do the responsible thing and vote to reopen the government using the exact legislation they already supported just six months ago, while we continue our bipartisan negotiations. I remain committed to working across the aisle to find common ground on the issues that matter most to our district and the nation.

Thanks to President Trump, servicemembers will be paid today for the October 15 pay period because he shifted funding from a Pentagon research and development account. However, these funds are limited and serve as a temporary bandaid. We will never forget that Senate Democrats were willing to allow our troops to go unpaid, and we call on them to pass the clean extension and reopen the government to ensure our military and all federal employees are paid on October 31.”

Malliotakis is a cosponsor of H.R. 5401 Pay Our Troops Act of 2026 which ensures that members of the U.S. Armed Forces, including the Coast Guard, continue receiving pay and benefits in the event of a government shutdown.

 

Banner Image: Rep. Malliotakis at Staten Island’s U.S. Coast Guard–Sector New York. Image Credit – Rep Malliotakis