Press ReleaseNeutral2026-05-20

CTI Chairman Pfluger Honors TSA Officers, Highlights Critical Role in Air Security

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This press release from Representative August Pfluger (R-TX) was published on 2026-05-20 and titled "CTI Chairman Pfluger Honors TSA Officers, Highlights Critical Role in Air Security".

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CTI Chairman Pfluger Honors TSA Officers, Highlights Critical Role in Air Security

WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11), Chairman of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence, participated in a full committee hearing to recognize and thank the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents who continued to serve unpaid during the Democrat-caused longest government shutdown in history. The hearing, titled "TSA Modernization: Industry Perspectives on Key Security and Travel Reforms 25 Years After 9/11," focused on strengthening TSA operations, supporting frontline personnel, and ensuring America's aviation security infrastructure remains prepared to confront evolving terrorist threats. During the hearing, Chairman Pfluger praised TSA personnel across the country, including officers serving at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Midland International Air Space Port, and San Angelo Regional Airport, emphasizing their indispensable role in safeguarding America's aviation system and national security. "A lot of kudos, Mr. McLaughlin, to what DFW does," said Chairman Pfluger. "I fly through there all the time. You run an incredible airport TSA operation inside DFW.... I also want to say thank you back to my district, to San Angelo, to Midland. You guys came to work with a smile on your face, you kept our airport safe, and you weren't paid for multiple months, and I want to thank you for the work that you did." Witnesses included Christopher T. Sununu, President and CEO, Airlines for America (A4A); Chris McLaughlin, CEO, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW); and Everett Kelley, National President, American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). Watch Rep. Pfluger's questioning HERE or by clicking on the image below. Read Chairman Pfluger's full exchange with the witnesses below: Rep. Pfluger: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I thank the witnesses for being here, and a lot of kudos, Mr. McLaughlin, to what DFW does. I fly through there all the time. You run an incredible airport, TSA operations inside DFW. There are airports you will fly out of, and some that are not as good, and DFW is a great example. And I also want to say thank you back to my district, to San Angelo, to Midland. You guys came to work with a smile on your face, you kept our airport safe, and you weren't paid for multiple months, and I want to thank you for the work that you did. Dr. Kelly, you said something interesting. You said that these workers do sacred work, holy work. I agree with you. They don't do it for pay, do they? Chairman Everett Kelley: Definitely not. Rep. Pfluger: In fact, they weren't paid for how many months? It's over 75 days. So you said they do something that is sacred to keep us safe. That Pan Am flight, I'm so glad you brought that up. It wasn't just 9/11. There were a string of events, weren't there, before 9/11. Are we still facing a threat in the United States of America for people who want to co-opt air travel for the purposes of terrorism? Chairman Everett Kelley: I certainly think that we are still facing those threats. I mean, there are those in this world who want to harm Americans. Rep. Pfluger: And they would use air travel to do that harm, wouldn’t they? Chairman Everett Kelley: I think they could, yes. Rep. Pfluger: Well, Dr. Kelly, let me ask you a question. How harmful was it for our TSA agents to have to go home to their families and tell them, “I'm not going to get a paycheck”? How harmful was that to the overall force? Chairman Everett Kelley: You know, the thing of the matter is, this is what we have to understand. The TSA agents take an oath. They take an oath to defend the American public, and they do that with pride. Rep. Pfluger: They don't do it for free. Chairman Everett Kelley: I’m proud of the fact that they do that, and that they did that without a paycheck. But understanding that their mission is to protect the flying public, they take that to heart. August Pfluger: And they take that very seriously. In fact, they came to work for multiple months without getting a paycheck, didn't they? Chairman Everett Kelley: That’s a fact. Rep. Pfluger: Dr. Kelly, do you also represent folks who work with Border Patrol? Chairman Everett Kelley: I certainly do. Rep. Pfluger: What's their feeling? How’s their morale right now? On the subject of not getting paid, how is their morale? Chairman Everett Kelley: You know, I think anybody's morale is down when they're not getting paid, but they also understand the mission. They, too, understand that they are working for the American public. Rep. Pfluger: How many months can they go with a Congress telling them that they don't want them to exist? Chairman Everett Kelley: You know, I don't think they should have to go one day with the Congress telling them that they should not exist. Rep. Pfluger: I agree. Chairman Everett Kelley: What they should be doing is praising these employees who have gone for over 119 days without pay. They should be praising them for making sure tha

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CTI Chairman Pfluger Honors TSA Officers, Highlights Critical Role in Air Security WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11), Chairman of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence, participated in a full committee hearing to recognize and thank the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents who continued to serve unpaid during the Democrat-caused longest government shutdown in history. The hearing, titled "TSA Modernization: Industry Perspectives on Key Security and Travel Reforms 25 Years After 9/11," focused on strengthening TSA operations, supporting frontline personnel, and ensuring America's aviation security infrastructure remains prepared to confront evolving terrorist threats. During the hearing, Chairman Pfluger praised TSA personnel across the country, including officers serving at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Midland International Air Space Port, and San Angelo Regional Airport, emphasizing their indispensable role in safeguarding America's aviation system and national security. "A lot of kudos, Mr. McLaughlin, to what DFW does," said Chairman Pfluger. "I fly through there all the time. You run an incredible airport TSA operation inside DFW.... I also want to say thank you back to my district, to San Angelo, to Midland. You guys came to work with a smile on your face, you kept our airport safe, and you weren't paid for multiple months, and I want to thank you for the work that you did." Witnesses included Christopher T. Sununu, President and CEO, Airlines for America (A4A); Chris McLaughlin, CEO, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW); and Everett Kelley, National President, American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). Watch Rep. Pfluger's questioning HERE or by clicking on the image below. Read Chairman Pfluger's full exchange with the witnesses below: Rep. Pfluger: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I thank the witnesses for being here, and a lot of kudos, Mr. McLaughlin, to what DFW does. I fly through there all the time. You run an incredible airport, TSA operations inside DFW. There are airports you will fly out of, and some that are not as good, and DFW is a great example. And I also want to say thank you back to my district, to San Angelo, to Midland. You guys came to work with a smile on your face, you kept our airport safe, and you weren't paid for multiple months, and I want to thank you for the work that you did. Dr. Kelly, you said something interesting. You said that these workers do sacred work, holy work. I agree with you. They don't do it for pay, do they? Chairman Everett Kelley: Definitely not. Rep. Pfluger: In fact, they weren't paid for how many months? It's over 75 days. So you said they do something that is sacred to keep us safe. That Pan Am flight, I'm so glad you brought that up. It wasn't just 9/11. There were a string of events, weren't there, before 9/11. Are we still facing a threat in the United States of America for people who want to co-opt air travel for the purposes of terrorism? Chairman Everett Kelley: I certainly think that we are still facing those threats. I mean, there are those in this world who want to harm Americans. Rep. Pfluger: And they would use air travel to do that harm, wouldn’t they? Chairman Everett Kelley: I think they could, yes. Rep. Pfluger: Well, Dr. Kelly, let me ask you a question. How harmful was it for our TSA agents to have to go home to their families and tell them, “I'm not going to get a paycheck”? How harmful was that to the overall force? Chairman Everett Kelley: You know, the thing of the matter is, this is what we have to understand. The TSA agents take an oath. They take an oath to defend the American public, and they do that with pride. Rep. Pfluger: They don't do it for free. Chairman Everett Kelley: I’m proud of the fact that they do that, and that they did that without a paycheck. But understanding that their mission is to protect the flying public, they take that to heart. August Pfluger: And they take that very seriously. In fact, they came to work for multiple months without getting a paycheck, didn't they? Chairman Everett Kelley: That’s a fact. Rep. Pfluger: Dr. Kelly, do you also represent folks who work with Border Patrol? Chairman Everett Kelley: I certainly do. Rep. Pfluger: What's their feeling? How’s their morale right now? On the subject of not getting paid, how is their morale? Chairman Everett Kelley: You know, I think anybody's morale is down when they're not getting paid, but they also understand the mission. They, too, understand that they are working for the American public. Rep. Pfluger: How many months can they go with a Congress telling them that they don't want them to exist? Chairman Everett Kelley: You know, I don't think they should have to go one day with the Congress telling them that they should not exist. Rep. Pfluger: I agree. Chairman Everett Kelley: What they should be doing is praising these employees who have gone for over 119 days without pay. They should be praising them for making sure tha