When the people who protect us can’t afford lunch, the culture steps up.
It’s been over 40 days since the Department of Homeland Security shutdown began on February 14, 2026, and TSA workers across the country have been showing up to work without a single paycheck. More than 460 officers have quit. Call-out rates have skyrocketed from around 4% to over 11% nationwide, with some airports like Houston Hobby hitting call-out rates above 50%. Security lines at major airports have stretched past four hours. And through it all, thousands of TSA agents are still showing up every single day to keep travelers safe.
So when “Lunch on Me” series creator Daron the Chef (@daronthechef) linked up with Cuts & Slices co-founder Randy McLaren to feed over 100 TSA workers at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, it hit different.
A Special Delivery for the People Who Show Up
For Part 4 of his “Lunch on Me” series, Daron didn’t just grab a few boxes of regular pizza. He arrived at the Queens Cuts & Slices location at 7 a.m. to help the team prepare something special for the occasion: birria pizza. A flavor that wasn’t even available at any of the three Cuts & Slices locations at the time.
If you know Cuts & Slices, you know this is no ordinary pizza shop. Founded in 2018 by husband-and-wife duo Randy and Ashlee McLaren in Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood, the Black-owned pizzeria became a viral sensation for its Caribbean-inspired gourmet slices. Think oxtail pizza, jerk chicken black truffle alfredo, shrimp and lobster scampi, and chopped cheese slices that taste like a love letter to New York. The New York Times called it the city’s “most exciting pizza.” Keith Lee gave it a 9.7 on TikTok. Celebrities from Jadakiss to Odell Beckham Jr. have pulled up. And now Cuts & Slices has expanded to three locations across Brooklyn, Queens, and the Lower East Side in Manhattan.
So yeah, these TSA workers didn’t get a regular cheese pie. They got the good stuff.
“We Can’t Afford No Food Right Now”
In the video, multiple TSA workers expressed genuine gratitude for the gesture. One worker summed up what so many are feeling right now: they appreciate the food because they simply cannot afford to eat. They’re not getting paid.
That line alone tells you everything you need to know about the human cost of this shutdown.
TSA employees have now worked 87 days without getting paid in fiscal year 2026. According to testimony from TSA officials before the House Homeland Security Committee, the agency is approaching nearly $1 billion in unpaid payroll. Workers are dealing with eviction notices, vehicle repossessions, overdrawn bank accounts, and empty refrigerators, all while still reporting to work to screen around 3 million passengers on peak travel days.
And spring break? It’s happening right now. The FIFA World Cup kicks off June 11, less than three months away. TSA officials have warned that even if new officers were hired today, they wouldn’t be trained and ready in time.
This Is What Community Looks Like
Daron gave TSA workers their flowers during the visit, thanking them for continuing to show up despite the financial strain. Randy McLaren echoed the sentiment, reminding the workers that the world sees them and appreciates their sacrifice.
The gesture caught national attention, landing Daron an appearance on Fox News’ Fox & Friends to talk about the operation and the “Lunch on Me” series.
At the end of the video, Randy even hinted that the birria pizza might make its way onto the permanent Cuts & Slices menu. So if you missed it at LaGuardia, you might get another chance to try it soon.
The Bigger Picture
What Daron the Chef and Cuts & Slices did is a reminder that when systems fail people, community fills the gap. Across the country, restaurants, food banks, churches, and everyday people have been stepping up to feed TSA workers during this shutdown. From Uncle Rico’s Pizza in Fort Myers offering free pies to TSA badge holders, to MGM Resorts delivering donated lunches to TSA staff in Las Vegas, the outpouring has been real.
But let’s be clear: nobody should have to depend on the generosity of strangers to eat while working a full-time federal job protecting the safety of millions.
Until Congress gets its act together, we’re grateful for people like Daron and Randy who use their platforms and their resources to take care of the people who take care of us.
Support Black-Owned. Support the Culture.
Cuts & Slices has three locations in New York City: the original in Brooklyn at 93 Howard Ave (Bed-Stuy), the Queens location at 205-01 Linden Blvd (St. Albans), and the newest spot at 321 E. Houston Street on the Lower East Side in Manhattan. Follow them on Instagram at @cutsandslicesnyc.
Follow Daron the Chef on Instagram at @daronthechef to keep up with the “Lunch on Me” series and all his community work.
For more stories celebrating Black food culture, community, and the people making a difference, visit BlackFoodie.com. Recipe? Comment “recipe” or visit BlackFoodie.com.