Jay Byars, a Republican candidate for South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, and Frankie Staropoli, a candidate for Dorchester County Council, on Sunday served barbecue to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees at Charleston International Airport.
The gesture comes as TSA officers across the country have been working without pay since the Department of Homeland Security’s partial shutdown began on Feb. 14.
More than 260,000 DHS employees, including the TSA workforce responsible for screening every passenger at U.S. airports, have continued reporting to duty without compensation for more than five weeks. At least 366 transportation security officers have resigned since the latest shutdown began, and approximately 10% of screeners have called off work during the lapse. The funding gap marks the third time in six months that TSA employees have been asked to work without a paycheck.
“These TSA officers show up every day, put on that uniform, and keep our families safe,” Byars said. “And right now, Washington is telling them that their service does not matter enough to pay them for it. That is wrong. Frankie and I wanted to look these folks in the eye, hand them a plate of barbecue, and say thank you. It is the least we can do for people who give so much while asking for so little. These are true civil servants. They are not walking off the job. They are not making excuses. They are showing up every single day to protect us, and they deserve to know that their community sees them and appreciates them.”
Byars and Staropoli personally cooked and served barbecue to TSA employees at the airport on Sunday afternoon.
“I have spent my whole adult life trying to find ways to say thank you to the people who serve our community,” Staropoli said. “When I heard that TSA officers here in Charleston were going weeks without a paycheck, it broke my heart. These men and women have families, mortgages and groceries to buy, just like the rest of us. Cooking for the people who protect us is something I believe in deeply, and I am proud to stand with Jay today to make sure these folks know that Summerville and the Lowcountry have their backs.”
The partial DHS shutdown has affected agencies including TSA, FEMA, the Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection. Travelers passing through Charleston International Airport during spring break have experienced longer wait times as staffing shortages continue. Despite the hardship, the vast majority of TSA officers have continued to report for duty.
“Washington can argue about politics all day long,” Byars said. “But the men and women keeping our airports safe should never be used as bargaining chips. They deserve better, and when I get to Congress, fighting for the people who protect us will always come first.”
Members of the public can provide additional support to TSA agents at Charleston International Airport via Venmo at @iflychs.
