The Department of Homeland Security on Thursday refuted reports that it had told agents at U.S. airports and border checkpoints that they could not wear masks to protect from exposure to swine flu.

"The Department of Homeland Security has not issued an order saying our employees cannot wear masks. The health of our employees is of utmost importance to us. And today we are issuing department-wide guidance to our workforce," DHS spokeswoman Sara Kuban told FOX News. 

Kuban was responding to reports of a guideline banning masks at checkpoints because they look too intimidating. The reports had prompted Rep. Brian Bilbray, R-Calif., to tell FOX News that it's absurd to say border agents and airport workers don't need protections.

"Washington ought to wake up," Bilbray said in response to the reports that Kuban said were untrue.

The Department of Homeland Security had no official comment on what the source of the reports might be.

FOX News learned Thursday that a local supervisor in California may have told employees not to wear the masks.

A source at Homeland Security told FOX News that the department couldn't account for what a individual supervisors might have said, but the department leadership didn't order employees not to wear masks.

FOX News' Mike Levine and Erin Vogel contributed to this report.