AUSTIN, Texas — A tense exchange unfolded Monday at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport between U.S. Rep. Greg Casar and U.S. Sen. John Cornyn as the Republican senator arrived to deliver Whataburger to TSA agents working without pay during a partial government shutdown.
Cornyn had organized the visit to draw attention to what he described as Democrats blocking a Department of Homeland Security funding bill, leaving TSA screeners unpaid during one of the airport’s busiest spring travel days.
Casar, a Democrat who represents Austin in Congress, arrived ahead of Cornyn and was speaking with reporters when the senator showed up. The two then had a heated back-and-forth that was captured on video.
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Casar asked Cornyn to support a bipartisan bill to fund TSA specifically. Cornyn refused, saying standalone TSA funding was “not acceptable” and calling on Democrats to support full DHS funding.
“Instead of bringing people burgers, he should bring them their paychecks, which involves funding TSA,” Casar said after the exchange.
Cornyn responded, telling Casar to direct his message to Democrats. “Why don’t you tell your Democrats to vote to pay these poor people?” Cornyn said.
Cornyn’s office said he has voted four times in the past month to reopen DHS and allow screeners to be paid. His office blamed congressional Democrats for blocking the funding bill for five weeks.
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The shutdown has contributed to long security lines at Austin-Bergstrom, which saw long TSA waits for four consecutive days.
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