Washington (CNN) Transportation Safety Administration chief David Pekoske defended on Wednesday the agency's practice of not paying employer shares of health coverage for part-time screening officers as the coronavirus crisis continues.

At a congressional hearing, Pekoske said the agency used to provide that benefit but no longer does.

"I have no intention of restoring health care coverage for part-time workers. I think that was a good decision," Pekoske told a House Homeland Security subcommittee. "We will certainly take care of our employees to the best of our ability and we provide robust guidance to our entire workforce with respect to how they prevent the disease in the first place."

The TSA has put on leave "under 100" officers who it identified as coming in contact with one of three officers who tested positive for coronavirus at the San Jose, California, airport.

Those workers will be paid for the duration of a 14-day isolation period, Pekoske said.

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