Spring break travel just got more frustrating. It’s not just that airline prices are going off the rails, but even after taking out what feels like a second mortgage to buy a ticket, you might still miss your flight. Security lines are stretching for hours at airports across the country, with some threatening to close.
And now, on top of all that, officials are asking you — the traveler — to help fix the mess.
Amid the partial government shutdown, TSA agents have gone unpaid for over a month, pushing many to resign, call out sick, or stop showing up to a demanding, high-risk job without pay.
The partial government shutdown began in mid-February, after lawmakers failed to reach a funding agreement. As a result, TSA agents — who are considered essential workers — are still required to show up to work but have gone without pay, with many missing their first full paycheck.
Now, some airport officials, including those at Denver International Airport — the 10th busiest airport in the country — are asking passengers to help by donating gift cards to TSA workers. DEN officials are encouraging travelers to donate $10 and $20 gift cards from stores like King Soopers, Safeway, Walmart, Costco, and Target. Ideal gift cards include stores that sell both gas and food.
“Once again, DEN’s federal employees are working tirelessly to ensure our airport operates efficiently and safely without getting paid. 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,” said DEN CEO Phil Washington in a press statement. “That’s why we are calling on the public, our passengers, and other airport employees to donate grocery store and gas gift cards to help make this moment a little more bearable for these federal workers.”
Meanwhile, on the West Coast, the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport launched a food pantry and is accepting donations of non-perishable food, hygiene items, and diapers to support its federal workers.
Other airpots nationwide are following suit, including Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) reopening its “Food & Essentials Pantry” to support federal employees working without pay and Redmond Municipal Airport in California launching donation drives like a “Neighbor-to-Neighbor Care Drive.”
Travelers have mixed feelings about this initiative. Many agree that it’s wrong for TSA workers to go unpaid, but also feel like it’s not fair to be asked to step in.
“It feels like getting the poors to donate what little they have to the other poors due to systemic failures while the CEOs [hoard] more and more wealth is the main pillar of the American economic system,” said one user on Reddit.
“If the government is shutdown and all these systems “don’t have money,” where are the taxes we all still pay going?” asked another.
“Funnily enough, we already donated money to those guys. Except we call it taxes,” remarked another user.
Is your local airport asking for TSA donations? Let us know in the comments!
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