A senior Transportation Security Administration official is urging Senate Democrats to stop playing “political games” with security officers’ paychecks, warning that some airports may have to close if the call-out rate rises as the partial government shutdown continues.

“It’s not hyperbole to suggest that we may have to quite literally shut down airports, particularly smaller ones, if call-out rates go up and a lot of these officers can’t afford to come in,” acting Deputy TSA Administrator Adam Stahl told Fox & Friends Tuesday morning.