Congressman Juan Ciscomani Joins House Republican Leadership to Urge Immediate Passage of Pay Our Homeland Defenders Act

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Juan Ciscomani yesterday joined Speaker Mike Johnson, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Majority Whip Tom Emmer, Conference Chair Lisa McClain, and Representative Jay Obernolte, in calling for the immediate passage of his Pay Our Homeland Defenders Act, legislation to ensure Department of Homeland Security personnel receive their pay without interruption.

For 40 days, DHS employees and agents have been caught in the middle of Democrats' political games, leaving thousands of hardworking Americans facing financial uncertainty. From TSA officers to Customs and Border Protection personnel and Coast Guard service members, these men and women work tirelessly every day to keep our country safe and secure. Yet the pain of Washington dysfunction is being felt in households across the nation as families worry about making ends meet.

As Vice Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, Rep. Ciscomani has put forward a concrete solution to ensure these employees receive their paychecks. Already in Fiscal Year 2026, TSA agents have gone without pay for nearly half the year. TSA agents, and all federal personnel, should never be caught in the middle of partisan political games. Ensuring the safety and security of the American people requires supporting those on the front lines of homeland defense, that should not be made political. It is unacceptable that the very individuals tasked with protecting our borders, securing our transportation systems, and responding to emergencies are being used as leverage in political disputes.

During the weekly press conference, Rep. Ciscomani emphasized the urgency of action and urged his colleagues in Congress to support his legislation.

"Now we're taking action this week with my bill Pay Our Homeland Defenders Act, which will be considered by the House tomorrow," said Rep. Juan Ciscomani. "We expect Democrats to once again to vote to defund law enforcement. Vote against our national security interests. This legislation is straightforward though. It ensures the TSA agents and all DHS personnel, all of them, are paid for their critical work they do, even as broader negotiations continue."

Watch Congressman Ciscomani's remarks from the press conference HERE.

Rep. Ciscomani's comments echoed views he expressed in a recent guest opinion, "Stop playing politics with our homeland security." The guest opinion was published in the Arizona Daily Star, Eastern Arizona Courier and Sierra Vista Herald/Review.

The Pay Our Homeland Defenders Act would guarantee that DHS personnel continue to receive their pay during funding lapses or periods of uncertainty, providing immediate financial stability for these essential workers. By ensuring uninterrupted pay, the bill protects mission readiness, supports workforce morale, and prevents further strain on the families of those who serve on the front lines.

House Republican Leadership also highlighted the real-world consequences of Senate Democrats' inaction including Sens. Ruben Gallego and Mark Kelly with increasing reports of employees taking on second jobs and struggling to cover commuting costs, even sleeping in their cars to make ends meet. These challenges not only impact individual families but also threaten the effectiveness of the critical missions DHS carries out every day.

"I so appreciate Congressman Juan Ciscomani. As he noted, he was in charge of the homeland bill as it's in its earliest stages coming through the House, and it was a bipartisan bill," said Speaker Mike Johnson. "Remember, the Democrats agreed with all that. They understood it's one of the 12 appropriations bills in their annual appropriations packages, and we always have Homeland funded as an entire department."

"It's a sad moment that we're up here still talking about the fact that the Democrats continue to shut down the Department of Homeland Security," said Leader Steve Scalise."We've given them multiple opportunities to do the right thing. When you see lines at every airport, people waiting hours and hours at my airport home airport in New Orleans. Louis Armstrong International, you've got people sleeping overnight, the night before flights so that they can have a chance of making their flight."

You can read a summary and full text of the bill HERE.

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