Rep. María Elvira Salazar, a U.S. Congresswoman representing Florida’s 27th district, addressed issues of national security and partisan politics in a series of posts on March 16, 2026.
In her first post, Salazar commented on the ongoing threat posed by criminal organizations in the Western Hemisphere. She wrote: “For too long, brutal cartels have poisoned our hemisphere with violence, drugs, and terror. Now, thanks to @POTUS @statedept, they are being treated exactly for what they are: terrorist organizations. America will stand with our partners in the region to dismantle these” (March 16, 2026).
Later that day, Salazar criticized Democratic actions during a period of government shutdown and its impact on security agencies. In an English-language post she stated: “Democrats want to punish Republicans, but they picked the worst possible moment. You don’t disconnect the fire alarm while the building is on fire. 90% of DHS still working without pay. 60%+ of cyber defense workforce gone during the shutdown. All while the United States is” (March 16, 2026).
She reiterated these points in Spanish: “Los demócratas quieren castigar a los republicanos, pero eligieron el peor momento posible. No se desconecta la alarma de incendios cuando el edificio está en llamas.
• El 90% del DHS sigue trabajando sin paga.
• Más del 60% del personal de defensa cibernética está fuera” (March 16, 2026).
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) often requires essential employees to work without pay during government shutdowns until funding is restored through congressional action. Similarly, critical sectors such as cybersecurity can face significant operational disruptions when funding lapses lead to furloughs or reduced staffing levels.
Salazar’s remarks reflect broader concerns among lawmakers about both transnational criminal threats and domestic policy disputes impacting federal agency operations.