Langworthy Hosts March Telephone Town Hall: DHS Shutdown, Iran, Energy Costs & More
Editor's note: What follows is an independent summary of Congressman Nick Langworthy's March 2026 telephone town hall, compiled from a full transcript of the call. It is not an official statement from the congressman's office. Quotes are drawn directly from the transcript. Caller questions and concerns are presented alongside the congressman's responses so readers can evaluate both.
Key Points
- The Department of Homeland Security has been shut down for 31 days after Senate Democrats used the filibuster to block funding over objections to ICE and CBP. Langworthy condemned the shutdown as irresponsible regardless of party, while acknowledging Democrats point to the death of a detainee in Minnesota as their rationale.
- Langworthy introduced the Pay the TSA Act of 2026, which would use the existing $5.60 airline passenger security fee to ensure TSA workers are paid during future shutdowns. More than 300 TSA agents have resigned since the closure began.
- Callers pressed Langworthy on the U.S. strikes against Iran — raising concerns about mixed messaging, civilian casualties including a bombed school, and the risk of creating new enemies. Langworthy conceded the administration's communication could have been better and acknowledged "a lot of question marks."
- Western New York residents described electric and propane bills that have become unaffordable. Langworthy blamed New York's CLCPA and state-mandated grid buildout costs passed on to ratepayers, and promoted his Energy Choice Act.
- Caller Alyssa made pointed remarks about Muslim women in the workplace. Langworthy redirected the conversation to voter ID without directly engaging or challenging her comments.
- Kim from Jamestown, one of 85 people worldwide with her cancer diagnosis, described losing access to telehealth consultations with her Johns Hopkins doctors when COVID-era cross-state licensing waivers expired. Langworthy pledged a personal follow-up and said he would explore a legislative fix.
Opening Remarks
Langworthy opened the call live from the U.S. Capitol, welcoming thousands of constituents to the monthly forum. He emphasized that callers are not screened for political affiliation or topic: "I don't shy away from tough questions or criticisms. My only requirement is that you're respectful."
He devoted his opening remarks entirely to the partial government shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security, now in its 31st day. Senate Democrats blocked DHS funding using the filibuster, citing opposition to Customs and Border Patrol and ICE — specifically in the aftermath of a high-profile death in ICE custody in Minnesota. Democrats have argued the bill as written fails to address accountability concerns at those agencies. Langworthy rejected that rationale:
"I am against government shutdowns. Period. End of story. I don't care what party you're in. Government shutdowns are wrong. They hurt the American people. And holding our government hostage has never resulted in anything positive ever in the history of our country."
He called the 31-day closure a "national security nightmare," noting that federal agencies face an estimated 18 million cyber attacks daily, and pointed to a recent Iranian cyber attack on medical technology company Stryker as a warning of what's at stake. He also highlighted the toll on TSA workers — now going without pay for the third time in six months — and reported that more than 300 TSA agents have resigned since the shutdown began.
"Imagine the hardship this is causing the workers and their families, not being able to pay their mortgage or buy gas or get groceries. We're playing with fire and it's just cruel to the workers being used as political pawns."
📄 Legislation Introduced: The Pay the TSA Act of 2026
Langworthy announced the introduction of the Pay the TSA Act of 2026, which would redirect the existing $5.60 per-leg airline passenger security fee into a dedicated fund to ensure TSA officers continue to be paid during future government shutdowns. "This is a common sense fix to an urgent problem that's in front of us right now," he said.
Constituent Q&A
Joseph — Lancaster, NY | DHS Shutdown & ICE Approval
Joseph's concern: He agreed TSA and the Coast Guard are essential but noted that ICE and CBP have roughly 30% public approval compared to broad support for other DHS agencies. He asked why Congress won't fund the popular parts of DHS and negotiate separately over ICE and CBP reform.
"ICE and CBP just have such a low approval rate right now and everything else is so high. Everyone loves TSA, everyone loves the Coast Guard. So I'm wondering why you don't support a bill to fund all the good parts of DHS and then work on further funding for ICE and CBP."
Langworthy's response: He pushed back, noting that ICE and CBP already have funding through budget reconciliation passed last summer, so the shutdown's real victims are TSA and Coast Guard workers — not ICE. He called low approval of ICE a product of one-sided media coverage, saying the agency's successes — including removing violent criminals — rarely make headlines. He called on Senate Majority Leader Thune to require a traditional standing filibuster rather than allowing the minority to block legislation by simply raising their hands.
Anna — Corning, NY | Iran: Goals, Exit Strategy & Civilian Harm
Anna's concern: Anna pressed Langworthy on the lack of a clear public rationale for the Iran strikes, the mixed messaging from the administration, and the risk of creating more enemies than the military action eliminates. She raised the bombing of a school and the absence of answers about civilian casualties.
"When we had gone in and attacked Iran, we said we had destroyed everything, and now it's such a huge threat. It just feels like a lot of mixed messaging. We're creating more enemies than liberating a people. A school got bombed and there are no answers on that."
Langworthy's response: He conceded that the president "probably could have done a better job of laying out the case to the American people" before striking. He defended the action under the War Powers Act and called Iran "the world's leading sponsor of terror." On the school bombing, he acknowledged uncertainty: "It very well could have been an Iranian missile that hit that building — there's a lot of question marks, which is what makes me nervous." He drew a firm line against ground troops: "I do not want to see a troop commitment on the ground in Iran. That's a country of 93 million people — we would have a quagmire." Anna's broader point — that destabilizing Iran could breed resentment rather than liberation — was not directly resolved in the exchange.
John — Hamburg, NY | Gas Prices & Oil Companies
John's concern: He said he understood gas prices rising due to the Iran conflict and the Strait of Hormuz situation, but was frustrated that similar price spikes under previous administrations went without scrutiny.
"If you go back about 20 years ago when Obama was president, our gasoline prices were sky-high, almost $5 a gallon. No conflict, no nothing. Nobody seemed to say anything about that."
Langworthy's response: He expressed disappointment in oil companies that quickly raised prices even on fuel already purchased at lower costs. "I'm very disappointed that so many companies put the price up 40 to 50 cents in a week — because they didn't pay that price for the gas they were selling." He said securing the Strait of Hormuz is a military priority and that American energy independence is the long-term answer.
Alyssa — Lancaster, NY | Civility, Media Bias & Voter ID
Alyssa's concern: Alyssa offered an extended and at times heated commentary, pushing back against the previous caller's appeal for civility toward Muslims. She described personal experiences with Muslim coworkers and expressed frustration with what she sees as a double standard in how different groups are treated in public discourse. She also criticized media bias, the lack of voter ID requirements, and what she views as Democratic obstruction of the president.
"I am tired of always taking the back seat and saying I'm sorry or apologizing for being Catholic because I don't want to offend somebody else... Those who are citizens that embrace our culture and the American dream, God bless them. The ones that are wearing the hijabs and don't show their face — they're the ones you have to be worried about."
Langworthy's response: He steered the conversation toward voter ID — where he is on firmer political ground — and did not directly engage with Alyssa's characterizations of Muslim women. On voter ID, he said polls consistently show 84% of Americans support the requirement and called on Senate Republicans to force a standing filibuster to get it passed. He did not repeat or endorse her language about Muslims, but he did not challenge it either.
Jacqueline — West Philly, NY | Skyrocketing Energy Bills
Jacqueline's concern: She described receiving a $300+ electric bill for a 700-square-foot home she and her partner are away from 10 to 12 hours a day. Her mother heats with propane, also unaffordable. She said they face choices between medicine and heat, and that a new smart meter only made things worse.
"You get to the point where do I buy my medicines this month or do I pay the heat bills? And HEAP doesn't work — we make too much money for that."
Langworthy's response: He blamed New York's CLCPA — which he called the state's "Green New Deal" — and the Public Service Commission's mandated grid buildout, which utilities are passing directly to ratepayers. "It's a backdoor tax increase," he said. He promoted his Energy Choice Act, which would prevent states from banning natural gas and propane hookups. He noted he faces the same bills himself: "As I sit down and write out the monthly bills, I can't believe how much higher it is than last year."
Paul — Alden, NY | Term Limits
Paul's concern: Paul argued that term limits would reduce partisanship and force legislators to focus on accomplishment rather than reelection. He suggested eight years for House members and six for senators.
"If a senator knows he only has two more years and he's not up for reelection, won't he perform to his ultimate ability with cooperation across the aisle for the good of the country?"
Langworthy's response: He said he supports term limits and has co-sponsored legislation to that effect. When Paul pressed him on whether term-limited legislators would be more cooperative — and noted that Langworthy hadn't quite answered the question — Langworthy acknowledged it: "Yes, I do think people would do a better job." He also noted that House turnover is already substantial, saying his seniority ranking jumped from 400th to 333rd after just one term.
Kim — Jamestown, NY | Telehealth & Cross-State Licensing
Kim's concern: Kim is one of only 85 people in the world diagnosed with her specific cancer. After being turned away by Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic, Sloan Kettering, UPMC, and Dana Farber, Johns Hopkins — seven hours away — became her lifeline. During COVID, telehealth waivers allowed her to consult remotely with her Hopkins doctors across state lines. When the waivers expired, those cross-state consultations became legally prohibited again, forcing her back on the road.
"If I want to see somebody in Alaska, I could do it from sitting in Jamestown, New York. When COVID was over, they reinstated the licensing restrictions. Now I have to drive again all the way down there."
Langworthy's response: He said the cross-state licensing issue was new to him and pledged to have his staff follow up directly with Kim to explore a legislative fix. "We're going to call you on the side." He noted that Congress has repeatedly extended telehealth provisions on a year-to-year basis but has not yet made them permanent or addressed the cross-state licensing gap.
Langworthy closed by reminding constituents that his offices in Clarence, Jamestown, Olean, and Corning are available for help with any issue. He cited a same-day resolution of a $9,000 IRS dispute involving the VFW post in Cassadaga as an example of constituent services work. "Our office motto is there's no problem too big and no problem too small."
