Across the United States, communities are coming together to support Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers who have been working without full pay for over a month due to a government shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security.
World Central Kitchen, a charity usually focused on providing meals in disaster zones, has stepped in to feed TSA workers at airports in the Washington, D.C. area after many missed their first paycheck. In San Diego, Feeding San Diego has begun distributing 400 boxes of food, including essentials like pasta, beans, and fresh produce, to TSA employees in need, following a request from the TSA and local airport authorities.
Nonprofit organizations are actively working to help TSA workers, closely coordinating with airports and local TSA offices. This is necessary because there are strict ethics rules regarding gifts to federal employees, which complicates direct assistance for those impacted by the shutdown.
Carissa Casares from Feeding San Diego highlighted the importance of communication with airport authorities to ensure that resources are effectively directed to TSA employees. “We need to work directly with the people who have access to these employees to deliver food at convenient times and locations,” she said.
As of Saturday, the Department of Homeland Security has been shut down for 36 days, following a breakdown in negotiations over funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection. More than 120,000 DHS employees, including about 50,000 TSA officers, are working without pay as lawmakers continue to debate immigration enforcement.
This funding lapse comes on the heels of a previous 43-day government shutdown, which set a record and caused widespread hardship, including long lines at food banks as more than 700,000 federal workers struggled to make ends meet.
Those wanting to help TSA officers face challenges due to rules that restrict what these employees can accept. According to a DHS spokesperson, TSA officers cannot accept gifts at screening locations, which complicates direct donations.
However, Aaron Barker, president of the AFGE Local 554 union in Georgia, pointed out that TSA officer unions can accept donations and redistribute them to their members. He encourages people to visit the AFGE website to find their local union district or contribute through local labor councils. “For some, this support can be a matter of life and death,” Barker emphasized.
Union members have shared stories of financial struggles, facing eviction notices, and even having their cars repossessed. Many are unable to afford everyday necessities like toothpaste, milk, and detergent. “It’s heartbreaking to see people struggling with things we often take for granted,” Barker noted.
Despite these efforts, the most pressing need remains the end of the shutdown. “What they really want is their paycheck,” Barker said. “That’s the immediate concern.”
Organizations like Operation Food Search are working directly with TSA to provide food and set up temporary pantries at airports, including St. Louis Lambert International Airport. This initiative aims to make it easier for TSA employees to access food without extra travel. “It’s a great way to help them directly at work,” said Kristen Wild, the nonprofit’s CEO.
At Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, officials have also created a pantry for off-shift TSA staff and received donations from local food banks. Airport dining vendors have joined the effort, providing meals to TSA officers who are working without pay. “Seeing familiar faces and knowing they’re not being paid really tugs at your heart,” said airport spokesperson Perry Cooper.
Regular travelers are also recognizing the sacrifices made by TSA personnel. Musie Hidad, a traveler from Texas, expressed his concern, saying, “The work they are doing is serious and they aren’t getting paid for it. My heart goes out to them.”
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AP video journalist Patrick Aftoora-Orsagos contributed to this report from Columbus, Ohio.
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