WASHINGTON — Tensions flared Monday after progressive Rep. Greg Casar crashed Sen. John Cornyn’s visit to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to hand out Whataburger food to TSA workers who have been without pay for a month due to a funding lapse.
Casar (D-Texas), who chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus, faulted Republicans for the ongoing shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security, glossing over his own record of voting against funding the department, which houses the TSA.
“Why don’t you tell your Democrats to vote to pay these poor people?” Cornyn (R-Texas) scolded Casar.
Heated confrontation between Sen. John Cornyn and Rep. Greg Casar outside of the Austin airport just now. The two are split on a DHS funding shutdown that’s left some federal employees without paychecks for a month now.@cbsaustin pic.twitter.com/63JAQBXJSy
— Andrew Lamparski (@andrewlamparski) March 16, 2026
Casar, who represents the Austin area, then replied: “Let’s do it.”
“There’s a bipartisan bill that funds just the TSA.”
Cornyn called that proposal unacceptable, alluding to GOP gripes over how it left out Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as well as Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and reminded Casar of the recent terrorist attacks in the US, stressing that “these people are keeping us safe.”
The Texas senator then walked away.
“Instead of bringing people burgers, he should bring them their paychecks,” Casar sniped as the senator left.
Austin’s airport is one of several across the country that have faced delays, cancellations, and longer security lines due to apparent worker frustrations with the lack of pay.
Senate Democrats have blocked a bill to fund the rest of DHS, demanding Republicans make sweeping reforms to ICE and CBP, such as tightening warrant requirements and barring officers from wearing masks. This has led to a funding lapse that began on Feb. 14.
Republicans and the Trump administration have agreed to some of those demands, such as deploying body cameras, but have rejected the provisions about masks and warrant requirements.
Last week, Senate Democrats forced a vote on funding the rest of DHS except ICE and CBP, but Republicans rejected that, insisting that the two immigration enforcement agencies be included.
Cornyn is in the political fight of his life, facing a tough primary challenge from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R). The two advanced to a May 26 runoff. Looming over that race is President Trump, who has so far refrained from making an endorsement but teased that he will ultimately weigh in on the race.
The incumbent GOP senator made waves last week by announcing his support for weakening the 60-vote Senate filibuster to fund DHS and pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE) America Act, which would require proof of citizenship to vote.
