Across numerous airports in the United States, support programs have been initiated as approximately 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers have been working without pay for over a month. This situation stems from a partial government shutdown, caused by a congressional deadlock over the budget for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
While the DHS awaits budget reinstatement, TSA officers, deemed "essential workers", are required to report for duty at airports but are not receiving their salaries.
Keylen Villagrana, a public relations officer for Denver International Airport in Colorado, stated that the airport has received dozens of gift cards donated by the public to assist TSA personnel.
However, fundraising efforts face complications due to federal regulations governing support for TSA employees. They are prohibited from accepting cash or cash-equivalent cards, such as Visa gift cards. Additionally, the value of each donated gift card must not exceed 20 USD.
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Security personnel at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Virginia, on 13/3/2025. Photo: AFP |
Security personnel at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Virginia, on 13/3/2025. Photo: AFP
At Las Vegas Airport, a free food pantry has been established for TSA employees. Amanda Mazzagatti, a spokesperson for Las Vegas Airport, explained that the food pantry provides practical and essential support for airport security staff affected by the prolonged shutdown.
Since the beginning of this year, Democrats have opposed additional funding for DHS agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). These two units are tasked with implementing President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown and mass deportation campaigns.
Democratic senators have advanced a series of smaller bills aimed at funding specific DHS agencies, such as the TSA, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and other agencies not involved in immigration enforcement. However, these efforts have met with opposition from Republicans.
The current budget deadlock has led some TSA officers to take leave or call in sick. This has resulted in severe staffing shortages for screening operations, increasing wait times at airport security checkpoints.
"Too many passengers are waiting in line at security gates, and processing is extremely slow," wrote the CEOs of major airlines, including American Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Airlines, in an open letter to the US Congress. "First, leaders should immediately reach an agreement on DHS funding. Then, they need to act to ensure this issue never recurs."
In late 2025, a 43-day government shutdown led to widespread flight disruptions, forcing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to cut 10% of flights at major airports. Airline CEOs have urged the US to enact legislation guaranteeing that all federal aviation employees are paid even during government shutdowns caused by budget impasses.
Ha Linh (According to Guardian, Reuters)
