Arizona House members clash over federal shutdown, TSA pay and airport operations

Several members used points of personal privilege on the floor to highlight disruptions caused by the federal government shutdown and urge action on behalf of unpaid federal workers.

Representative Aguilar said businesses in Arizona were stepping in to help unpaid TSA families and criticized the administration for sending ICE agents to airports, arguing the change was damaging to the state's spring training economy and creating longer wait times for travelers.

Representative Martinez sharply criticized U.S. senators by name in floor remarks, saying they had "voted several times to not fund the TSA" and accusing them of "cowardice" for skipping votes. His remarks named two senators as having failed to secure funding for TSA staff.

Representative Cruz cautioned the chamber that constituents sometimes encourage senators to withhold votes as a political tactic and urged context when assessing federal votes. Representative Livingston defended some federal actions, argued the funding impasse is tied to a Senate supermajority requirement and called attention to private offers of assistance to affected workers.

Representative De Los Santos linked the federal spending choices and the shutdown to rising costs for Arizonans and criticized the state Republican majority for not publishing a budget plan 66 days after the governor's proposal, urging them to explain how proposed tax cuts would be funded.

Comments on federal funding and member criticisms were recorded on the House floor but did not produce formal motions or votes recorded in the session.