Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis joined veterans at Brooklyn’s U.S. Army Garrison–Fort Hamilton and Staten Island’s U.S. Coast Guard–Sector New York to urge Senate Democrats, including Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, to pass a continuing resolution that would reopen the federal government and ensure timely pay for servicemembers.
“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 aims to guarantee continued pay and benefits for members of the U.S. Armed Forces—including the Coast Guard—during any future government shutdowns.
She also recently wrote an op-ed criticizing Senate Democrats for blocking what she described as a previously bipartisan funding bill, arguing that this has negatively affected families, small businesses, servicemembers, and veterans nationwide.
Nicole Malliotakis has represented New York’s 11th Congressional District since 2021 after succeeding Max Rose. Before serving in Congress, she was a member of the New York State Assembly from 2011 through 2021. Born in New York City in 1980, Malliotakis currently resides in Staten Island. She holds degrees from Seton Hall University (BA) and Wagner College.
