ICYMI: Bresnahan Delivers Pizza to TSA Agents Amid Ongoing DHS Shutdown, Calls for Immediate Action to Reopen Government
AVOCA, PA: On Monday, March 23, 2026, U.S. Representative Rob Bresnahan, Jr. (PA-08) visited Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents on duty at the Wilkes-Baree/Scranton International Airport on his way to Washington, D.C. He delivered pizza as a small gesture of appreciation for the critical work they continue to perform without pay during the ongoing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown.
“These are the men and women showing up every single day to keep Americans safe, even when Washington hasn’t delivered for them,” said Rep. Bresnahan. “I’ve repeatedly voted to fund the Department of Homeland Security because these workers deserve certainty and a government that does its job. Pizza is a thank you, not a solution. The solution is simple: the Senate must reopen DHS and make sure these workers get paid.”
The DHS shutdown, which began on February 14, 2026, has impacted thousands of federal workers across the country, including many federal employees in Northeastern Pennsylvania. TSA agents, along with members of the Coast Guard Secret Service, and FEMA personnel, remain on the job without pay, continuing essential national security operations.
On January 30, 2026, Rep. Bresnahan sent a letter to the Chief Administrative Officer of the U.S. House of Representatives refusing to accept his congressional salary during the shutdown.
“…I remain committed to standing in solidarity with my constituents who expect Congress to do the most basic part of our job, keeping the lights on,” wrote Rep. Bresnahan. “If any part of the federal government shuts down, I will refuse to accept my congressional salary, and I request that my pay bet withheld for as long as a shutdown may last.
Rep. Bresnahan has consistently supported efforts to fund DHS and prevent this situation, voting on January 22, 2026, and March 5, 2026, to fully fund DHS through Fiscal Year 2026. Most recently, he voted for H.R. 7744, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026, which passed 221-209.
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