Major U.S. Airport Asks for Help Amid TSA Crisis
The ongoing partial government shutdown has been taking its toll on the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), with lengthy security line delays and staffing shortages causing major issues for workers and customers alike.
“Unscheduled absences among airport security officers have more than doubled during the ongoing Department of Homeland Security shutdown, with more than 300 employees leaving the agency since the start of the DHS shutdown, according to internal TSA statistics obtained exclusively by CBS News,” CBS News reported last week.
Amid these problems, one major American airport is taking matters into its own hands and asking for donations for TSA employees who are missing paychecks.
Denver International Airport asking for help
This past Wednesday, the official X/Twitter account for Denver International Airport issued a call for "$10 and $20 grocery store and gas gift cards" for their "dedicated TSA employees working without pay."
"DONATIONS NEEDED! Support the dedicated TSA employees working without pay by donating $10 and $20 grocery store and gas gift cards," the tweet read. "Visa gift cards cannot be accepted. Drop off locations can be found at Final Approach cell phone lot and in the Jeppesen Terminal."
❗DONATIONS NEEDED❗ Support the dedicated TSA employees working without pay by donating $10 and $20 grocery store and gas gift cards. Visa gift cards cannot be accepted.
— Denver Int'l Airport (@DENAirport) March 11, 2026
Drop off locations can be found at Final Approach cell phone lot and in the Jeppesen Terminal. pic.twitter.com/DZPs5gMuoV
Federal employees can not accept cash gifts or their equivalents, which is why Visa cards are not allowed.
“Once again, DEN’s federal employees are working tirelessly to ensure our airport operates efficiently and safely without getting paid,” Denver International Airport CEO Phil Washington said in a statement, via The Gazette. “TSA employees just missed their first paycheck, and as we enter a busy spring break travel period, we want to do what we can to ease the stress of this moment.”
At least one other airport has followed suit
On the same day of the Denver announcement, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport shared on X/Twitter that they have started a food pantry for TSA employees.
"If you’d like to help, donations of non-perishable food, hygiene items, and diapers can be dropped off at the SEA Conference Center between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.," the airport said.