Vasquez says he stands with TSA agents after voting against paying them

U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez is now publicly expressing support for Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents who have faced delayed paychecks during the recent federal funding fight — despite criticism that he previously voted against funding measures for the Department of Homeland Security, which includes TSA.

In a recent social media post and video filmed at the Albuquerque Sunport, Vasquez said he met with TSA agents and described their frustration over the ongoing funding uncertainty.

“To say that they are frustrated is an understatement,” Vasquez said in the video. “They’ve been used as political pawns over the last month, not receiving paychecks. They finally received a paycheck this week, but future paychecks are uncertain.”

Vasquez blamed Republican leadership in the U.S. House for the situation, saying a bipartisan deal had been reached in the Senate but was not taken up by House leadership.

“There was a deal in the Senate, a bipartisan bill that passed unanimously with all Republicans and Democrats supporting it to reopen TSA, FEMA and the Coast Guard,” Vasquez said. “Unfortunately, Speaker Johnson sent us back home with no deal. And so that uncertainty for their next paycheck still exists.”

He also said he is supporting the “Shutdown Fairness Act,” which would guarantee back pay for federal employees affected by government shutdowns.

“I’m going to continue to work to make sure that these folks are paid,” Vasquez said. “That’s why I’ve co-sponsored the Shutdown Fairness Act to make sure that our TSA agents and other federal employees are not used as political pawns in this very broken Congress.”

However, Vasquez is now facing criticism from Republicans who say his voting record contradicts his public statements supporting TSA workers.

In a statement, the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) accused Vasquez of voting against funding for the Department of Homeland Security, which funds TSA, Border Patrol, ICE, and other federal law enforcement agencies.

“Gabe Vasquez voted to defund law enforcement and block pay for TSA officers,” NRCC spokesman Reilly Richardson said in a statement. “Instead of supporting funding for DHS, including ICE, Border Patrol, and TSA, Vasquez sided with the far-left and voted against the very people who keep Americans safe.”

Richardson added, “It’s a stunning display of misplaced priorities, and voters will hold Vasquez accountable.”

The funding fight comes amid broader budget battles in Washington, D.C., where disagreements over federal spending and border security have repeatedly threatened funding for federal agencies, including those under the Department of Homeland Security.

TSA agents are considered essential federal employees and are required to work even during government shutdowns, though pay can be delayed until funding is restored.

Vasquez, who represents New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District, has increasingly focused on federal workers and border issues as he prepares for what is expected to be a competitive reelection race.

In his video message, Vasquez emphasized that regardless of politics, TSA agents continue to show up to work.

“More than anything, I want to thank those TSA agents who have shown up for work every single day despite the difficulties they have faced over the last several months,” he said.

The debate over federal funding, DHS, and border security is expected to remain a major issue in Congress heading into the next funding deadline, meaning the question of pay and funding for agencies like TSA may continue to be part of the political fight in Washington.