Airports across the United States are appealing for donations to support Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees who have been working without pay since the partial government shutdown began in February. The shutdown stems from a funding dispute over the Department of Homeland Security, with Democrats refusing to approve funding without immigration enforcement reforms.
TSA workers have missed their first full paychecks, leading some to call in sick or seek alternative income. This has caused intermittent delays at security checkpoints, including at Miami International Airport, where wait times doubled at times, and New Orleans airport, where a viral video showed lines stretching to the parking lot. However, airports such as Denver, Orlando, Las Vegas, and Cleveland have reported relatively normal operations.
In response, many airports have set up food pantries and are accepting donations of grocery and gasoline gift cards. Donations must comply with federal rules: no cash or cash-equivalent cards like Visa gift cards, and all gift cards must be valued at $20 or less. Denver airport has received dozens of gift cards from the public, while Las Vegas airport has reopened a food pantry first established during a 2019 shutdown.
“As this shutdown stretches on, these workers – some of whom are still recovering from the last shutdown – are going to really be in need of these supplies,” said Amanda Mazzagatti, a spokesperson for Las Vegas airport. At Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, a food pantry was reopened in March after public inquiries on how to help. “The airport is like a family, and this is our way to help out our family members here at the airport,” said Michele Dynia, the airport’s public information officer.
The shutdown has also affected Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents, who are tasked with carrying out the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign. These agencies have faced criticism over their aggressive tactics. Meanwhile, travellers like Praharsha Pinninti, a recent graduate at Miami airport, described the situation as “extremely unfair” and “a test of our integrity as an issue”.
