‘Remaining Vigilant’: Garbarino Wields Powerful Homeland Security Gavel

In July, Congressman Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport) assumed the gavel of one of Capitol Hill’s most powerful committees, Homeland Security.

Elected to the House in 2020, Garbarino is now chairing the significant legislative body not even halfway into his third term. 

Created in 2002 in the wake of the September 11 Attacks, the House Homeland Security has oversight related to security of the homeland, as well as authorization and policy oversight of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). DHS was created just months after the Homeland Security Committee was established.

The committee is comprised of thirty-three members – eighteen Republicans and fifteen Democrats. Garbarino serves as the committee’s chair, while Congressman Bennie Thompson (D, MS-02) serves as Ranking Member.

Having served in this prestigious capacity for several months, Chairman Garbarino sat down with The Messenger to discuss his relatively new role at a pivotal time for American security.

“It’s a very important committee, as it should be. Our jurisdiction touches everything that affects homeland security: the border, cybersecurity, counterterrorism, the Coast Guard,” Garbarino told The Messenger on Tuesday afternoon. “We don’t want another 9/11 happening; to make sure that we are protected is key.”

Of the nine Representatives who have wielded the gavel of this committee, two were from New York: Garbarino and his immediate predecessor in NY-02, Peter King (R-Seaford), who served two tenures as chairman from 2005-2007 and 2011-2013. Garbarino says that it’s “important” to have leadership of this committee back in the hands of a New Yorker. It also puts Suffolk County in the national spotlight.

“Everyone felt 9/11, but other states didn’t feel it as much as we did in New York. We really felt it here and still feel it, especially with people still getting sick and dying,” said Garbarino. “Long Island also has a very diverse population; we’re like our own mini country. It’s important to have the perspective of a New Yorker on this committee and leading it.”

Garbarino adds that while reactions to problems and crises are the norm, it’s imperative for Homeland Security to be constantly proactive. With a New Yorker leading the committee, 9/11 is still close in the rearview mirror. In that vein, the significance of proactiveness couldn’t be overstated. 

“We have this proactive thinking. It’s not just focusing on reactions, but focusing on other things to make sure a similar mass casualty event doesn’t happen. That perspective is crucial to leading the committee.”

Additionally, Garbarino says that New York’s iconic international nature and a city almost synonymous with its country on the world stage makes for a logical connection to such a high-profile role for one of the world’s most dominant superpowers.

To the nuts and bolts of the job, Garbarino says it has been a learning curve for him and his immediate staff, but only the best is good enough when it comes to protecting the homeland. Some House insiders have been “pitbulls”, according to Garbarino, in ensuring the best staffers are working the committee

“I have a great team. Because of our huge oversight and responsibilities, we need people who not only know the issues but have the connections and agencies to get information. You’re only as good as your team,” said Garbarino. “Nobody wants something to happen under our watch. Since we have a lot of members from different districts and priorities, getting everyone to paddle in the same direction was more difficult than I thought it would be, but that’s something you have to experience to realize it.”

Nonetheless, Garbarino says the bulk of the committee’s work has been “nonpartisan”, with his first meeting as chairman resulting in unanimously passed markup bills – save for one bill, which had just one “nay” vote. While partisan disagreements are inevitable, the baseline responsibility of securing the homeland routinely prevails. 

The differences between the Trump Administration and Biden Administration in terms of homeland security, Garbarino says, were noticeable.

“We’re actually focused on homeland security now [under Trump]. The Southern border is no longer leaking like a sieve. We have a president who ran on securing the border; he’s done that. The Big Beautiful Bill got the Coast Guard money they desperately needed. Working with the administration on cybersecurity and counterterrorism is hugely important.”

Garbarino says that Coast Guard funding has helped the branch add new ships to their fleet, including crucial icebreakers that are the essential key to the Arctic, as well as replacing helicopters that were hand-me-downs from the Navy. Counterterrorism efforts, notably, consist of drone technology and authorization, especially when securing highly attended events like sports matches. 

“We’re working with the White House now to grant authorizations to local police to take down drones if they are flown over an event,” said Garbarino, referencing the recently held Ryder Cup in Bethpage and next year’s U.S. Open to be held in June in Shinnecock Hills. “It would actually be a crime for local law enforcement to take down those drones.”

Overall, Garbarino says that while homeland security policies under Biden weren’t a “complete disaster”, the “engagement” under Trump has been “much more active.”

In terms of global geopolitics, Garbarino says remaining “vigilant” is key to combatting threats from the usual suspects, Russia, Iran, China, and North Korea, either directly, sponsored, or by unrestrained third parties.

“We’re always in the crosshairs. China is believed to have used AI to stage a major cyberattack. The technology we’re dealing with is used in drones and cell phones. There’s a lot to keep our eyes on.”

As the U.S. and the world experience the growing pains of the “Wild West” of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Garbarino says despite the negative connotations, balance can be achieved.

“People are finding ways to use AI that I didn’t expect, but that’s the thing. You have creative people who push the limits. Unfortunately, you’re seeing AI being used for cyberattacks or deepfakes, but we’re also seeing it used for beneficial purposes, like defense against cyberattacks,” said Garbarino. “The problem is that anything digital moves so quickly; it takes so long to legislate. You want to include the experts.”

In this prerogative, Garbarino says that regulation must be as malleable as it is effective, to not only keep up with the times, but to also prevent government from getting in its own way.

“My role in the oversight of AI is the regulation. If we’re going to issue protections or requirements, we need to make sure that what we write down on paper works in the real world. You don’t want to be too specific that it takes too long to change when it moves quickly. You don’t want the law to be behind technology. Something that works now might not work in two years,” said Garbarino. “Legislation should be broad enough to allow quick responses and should 100,000% include a committee of experts in advice.”

Garbarino’s “wish list” for such regulations: cybersecurity protections worked into the development of AI.

“I’m honored to hold the chairman’s title in only my third term,” said Garbarino, adding that former Congressman Peter King still takes his calls for pointers.

“Peter King did a great job as Chair. He’s been very helpful with advice in not only running for the position but also in serving as Chair now.”

The responsibility of securing the homeland at perhaps the most pivotal time in modern American history, coupled with an increasingly austere world and siloed populations makes this a particularly complex gavel to wield. With not even three full terms under his belt, Garbarino not only puts Suffolk County in the national spotlight, but on the international stage in an unmistakable way.