Congressman Peter King announced he will step down as the chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security this past weekend.

The New YorkRepublican must resign due to GOP party rules that limit committee chairmanships to six years. He has already had a one year extension that he is about to complete.

Speaking to the New York Daily News, King acknowledged the risk his departure may cause to New York funding.

The Long Island Congressman will continue to represent New York’s 3rd Congressional District and next year will take over the House subcommittee on counterterrorism and intelligence.

“Nothing is definite in politics or government, so if there is a new homeland security secretary, I will try to work with them as chairman of the subcommittee, and work with the new chair,” King said.

King
has been a long-time champion supporter of Irish causes on Capitol Hill. He was criticized in 2011 for holding hearings on radicalization of Muslims in the U.S.