“Morning Joe” host Joe Scarborough lambasted Republicans for leaving Transportation Security Administration workers unpaid amid the government’s stalemate over funding for the Department of Homeland Security.

During Thursday’s episode of his MS NOW show, Scarborough tore into the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), previously led by Elon Musk, for massively “gutting” the federal workforce.

“DOGE was very intentional” about eviscerating the “institutions that have protected this country and Americans for decades,” he argued. (His rant starts at about the 7:45 mark here.)

He then called out Trump’s former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, claiming that he said in 2016 that he wanted to “tear this state to the ground.”

He also turned his attention to the war in Iran, citing growing safety concerns.

“This is what’s happening while we’re going to war in Iran, while people are waiting three, four hours in line, and there are three or four TSA agents, and Iran is threatening terror attacks against America,” he said. “These Americans are not too old or not too dumb to forget what happened on 9/11 and understand that Iran has promised that they’re going to strike America.”

Scarborough then turned the volume up — way up — on GOP lawmakers.

“We are letting down our line of defenses when Republicans have a chance every day, every day, to get the TSA agents paid! Every day!” he yelled. “You’re so stupid! First of all, first of all, it’s dangerous. But politically, you’re so stupid. You’re so stupid to not force this through and pay our TSA agents.”

Thousands of TSA employees are working without pay due to a partial government shutdown caused by a funding impasse over DHS that began in mid-February.

As a result, TSA agents have been unable to afford necessities. This has also led to increased airport security delays and sparked concern among aviation experts about security risks.

Last week, Senate Republicans once again blocked legislation offered by Senate Democrats to pay TSA workers.

Scarborough continued to passionately urge GOP lawmakers to pay TSA workers to “prevent a tragedy from happening.”

“Pay these people. OK? Because guess what? We all can go to the airport and come home. We’re fine, we’re fine … But TSA agents aren’t fine,” he continued. “The people who actually have to get to Houston or have to get to San Diego, or have to get to Minneapolis for their work –”

“– or medical care,” co-host Mika Brzezinski added.

Scarborough further reprimanded GOP lawmakers for preventing TSA workers and travelers from tending to important personal matters, such as caring for sick family members.

“They’re not OK because of you!” he exclaimed. “Because you keep voting no on an up or down vote on whether you pay TSA agents or not. And then you try to say it’s very complicated – No!”

Wrapping up his rant, Scarborough begged Republicans to “please help yourself and save Americans.”

“It’s that simple. They say yes, and guess what? The TSA agents get paid, these lines go away, and our security against Iranian terror threats – poof!”

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