Texas Lawmakers Cornyn, Casar Clash at Austin Airport Over DHS Funding: 'Tell Your Democrats to Vote to Pay These Poor People'

Texas Sen. John Cornyn and Rep. Greg Casar clashed publicly outside Austin-Bergstrom International Airport during a press event highlighting the impact of a partial Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown on federal workers.

Cornyn, a Republican senator, had gathered reporters while delivering meals to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees who missed their first full paycheck the previous week because of the funding lapse. Casar, a Democrat whose district includes Austin, interrupted the event and accused Cornyn of blocking legislation that would have funded TSA operations.

"Just last week, the Democrats in the Senate and the House offered a bill to fully fund TSA, and Senator Cornyn and the Republicans blocked it," Casar said. "So, I'm kind of confused about why Senator Cornyn would be here having a press conference at the airport about funding TSA, when it's him who has blocked the funding."

The confrontation escalated as the two lawmakers argued over responsibility for the impasse.

"Why don't you tell your Democrats to vote to pay these poor people?" Cornyn said.

"Let's do it. Let's do it," Casar replied.

"No, you do it. I voted for it time and time again," Cornyn said before walking away from the exchange.

The dispute centers on legislation to fund DHS, which has been partially shut down since February 14 after Congress failed to pass a funding bill. Democrats have sought to approve funding for agencies such as TSA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Coast Guard while excluding immigration enforcement agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Republicans have opposed separating those agencies from the broader funding package.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Monday that Democrats would attempt to force a vote on a bill funding most DHS agencies but not ICE or CBP through a discharge petition, a procedural tool that requires 218 signatures to bring legislation to the House floor.

"The Department of Homeland Security has been shut down for more than 30 days because Donald Trump and Republican extremists refuse to get ICE under control," Jeffries wrote in a letter to colleagues.

Democrats have demanded new restrictions on immigration enforcement, including warrant requirements and body camera mandates, following the fatal shooting of two U.S. citizens during federal operations in Minneapolis earlier this year.

The dispute over DHS funding comes as Cornyn faces political pressure in Texas ahead of the state's Republican Senate primary. Some conservative activists aligned with the MAGA movement have criticized the senator and urged President Donald Trump to support a primary challenge from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Trump has not yet endorsed a candidate and told NBC News recently that he would make a decision "pretty soon."