Email from Rep. Garbarino Weekly Newsletter from the Office of Congressman Andrew Garbarino If you were forwarded this email, click here to subscribe An update from the office of Congressman Andrew Garbarino SPOTLIGHT Government Shutdown Update On September 19, 2025, Andrew voted to pass a clean, short-term funding extension to keep the federal government open and operational. The Senate, which requires 60 votes to pass this legislation, has yet to pass the clean, short-term funding extension and a government shutdown took effect at midnight on Wednesday, October 1, 2025. A clean, short-term funding extension was voted on 13 times during the Biden Presidency. There were no shutdowns because Andrew and other Republicans knew shutting down the government was not good for America. Andrew urges Senate Democrats to stop playing politics and vote on the clean, short-term funding extension and reopen the Government. During this shutdown, Andrew’s team will continue to assist constituents, and our office phone lines will remain open. Certain services and response times from federal agencies may slow or cease, but Andrew’s team will continue to seek guidance from federal agencies as the situation develops. Helpful information and resources on how the shutdown may affect federal services are available here. ANDREW IN THE NEWS New York police, counterterrorism cuts reversed by Trump administration " A massive cut to federal counterterrorism funding for police on Long Island and in New York City has been reversed, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Friday...State officials said earlier this week that New York faced a $187 million cut to grants that have funded counterterrorism, bomb squads, K-9 and tactical units and other work in New York City and on Long Island since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks...The $187 million cut was reversed after intercession by a roster of New York leaders, including Rep. Andrew Garbarino and Gov. Kathy Hochul. The state had also won an order from a federal judge preventing the cut from being imposed immediately...Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport), chairman of the powerful House Homeland Security Committee, in an interview Friday said the restoration came after a week of phone calls and letters from the state's elected officials to the White House Office of Legislative Affairs and to DHS. The cuts appeared to stem from changes to grant funding formulas made to take into account threats from drug cartels, Garbarino said. He said he had not gotten a response to a letter sent to DHS asking for a full explanation of the awards process. 'The cuts today got reversed because of presidential involvement,' Garbarino said. 'I think there are people at lower levels making some of these decisions that are improper.' It was unclear if cuts to other states had also been reversed, he said. New York City, he said, remains a high profile target, all the more so because next year the metropolitan region will host soccer's World Cup, a Tall Ships festival for the nation's 250th birthday and commemorations for the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. 'We are all American citizens and everybody needs to be protected, not just Republicans or Democrats,' Garbarino said. " Click here to read the full article. WHAT'S NEW IN NY-02 Andrew Honors SWAT School Graduates This week, officers from departments across Long Island completed a month-long intensive training program led by the Suffolk County Police Department Emergency Services, designed to prepare them for the most extreme circumstances and high-risk situations they may face in the line of duty. Andrew provided Congressional Certificates of Recognition to the graduates of the 2025 Emergency Service SWAT School and commended them for their dedication to public safety and their commitment to protecting Long Island communities. Andrew Recognizes Local Women Leaders in Patchogue Andrew provided Congressional Certificates of Recognition to honorees of the 8th Annual Power in Heels event in Patchogue, which celebrates local women for their leadership, entrepreneurship, and community contributions. This year’s honorees were Maria Scheuring, Attorney at Law; Maria Simpson, Owner of Honey Pilates; Melissa Bonilla of Bravo Supermarkets; and Lori Belmonte, Owner of The Colony Shop. Andrew remains a strong supporter of local small businesses and the entrepreneurs who help Long Island’s communities thrive. CASEWORK HIGHLIGHT: Helping Family Secure VA Benefits After months of delays with a pending Aid & Attendance application, a Ronkonkoma resident reached out to Andrew’s office on behalf of her father, a Korean War veteran, for assistance. Andrew’s team contacted the Department of Veterans Affairs multiple times to request updates and ensure that the case received the attention it deserved. Thanks to those efforts, the veteran’s application was reviewed and approved, bringing much-needed relief and peace of mind to the family.  Andrew knows how frustrating dealing with bureaucracy can be. That is why he has an entire team dedicated to helping constituents get what they need from the government. If you need help dealing with a federal agency, contact our office and our team will get to work on your case. Thanks for reading! Do you know someone who might like to receive these updates? Forward this email to your friends and family and tell them to click below to subscribe! Click Here To Subscribe Rep. Andrew R. Garbarino Congressman representing New York's 2nd Congressional District Washington, D.C. 2344 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-7896 Patchogue 31 Oak Street, Suite 20 Patchogue, NY 11772 Phone: (631) 541-4225 Rep. Garbarino | 2344 Rayburn House Office Building | Washington, DC 20515 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice