Elon Musk offers to pay TSA workers’ salaries as wait times increase amid shutdown: Map shows airports with longest lines
Elon Musk has offered to pay the salaries of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers during the ongoing partial government shutdown that is causing travel chaos nationwide.
‘I would like to offer to pay the salaries of TSA personnel during this funding impasse that is negatively affecting the lives of so many Americans at airports throughout the country,’ Musk posted Saturday morning on X.
Wait times to pass security have stretched to more than two hours in some airports around the US after TSA workers’ pay was stopped, causing staffing shortages.
At Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the busiest in the world, lines reached up to 125 minutes on Saturday morning.
In Houston, George Bush Intercontinental Airport saw delays of up to 150 minutes, while New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport topped 30 minutes.
TSA officers make about $50,000 per year on average, according to The New York Times. Musk, the richest man in the world, is valued at $814.3 billion.
The partial government shutdown stems from a congressional deadlock over funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees TSA.
As of Saturday morning, more than 1,300 delays and 79 cancelations had been reported across the country, according to FlightAware.
Travelers wait in line at Terminal E at George Bush International Airport in Houston, Texas, as the partial government shutdown continues
Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, offered to pay the salaries of TSA workers on Saturday morning
Democrats want changes to federal immigration enforcement, which President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans have not agreed to.
About 50,000 TSA workers have been working without pay since February 14 because the DHS is currently shutdown.
At least 366 agents nationwide have quit their jobs, according to the agency.
Salt Lake City International Airport and Denver International Airport reported wait times of 30 minutes, while Dallas-Fort Worth saw delays of 24 minutes.
The DHS has also said that many TSA officers cannot pay their rent, afford gas or buy food because of the current shutdown.
Some were having to sleep at airports since they could not commute home, according to the agency, which said that ‘Democrats must end this madness.’
To date, the Atlanta airport has had the highest average callout rate during the shutdown so far at 21.5 percent.
Other airports with high average TSA callout rates during the shutdown include JFK Airport at 21.4 percent, Houston Hobby at 21 percent and New Orleans at 16.5 percent, according to the DHS.
About 50,000 TSA workers have been working without pay since February 14 with the Department of Homeland Security shutdown
Wait times reached up to 125 minutes on Saturday morning at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the busiest in the world
Wait times to pass security have seen major delays across the nation US after TSA workers’ pay was stopped
Disruptions have also been reported in Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Orlando, Minneapolis, Miami, Salt Lake City and other airports on both coasts.
The travel madness is expected to continue as long as TSA workers do not get paid. Travelers are encouraged to check airport websites, as wait times will fluctuate.
A longtime TSA worker said some agents could not support their families, let alone get to work.
‘Whether it’s “I can’t put gas in my car,” “I have to take care of my children,” “I have to pay my light bill so that my lights won’t get cut off,” … those are the reasons that officers are not showing up,’ Aaron Barker, president of American Federation of Government Employees Local 554 in Atlanta, said, per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
‘Officers are scared,’ Barker added. ‘They don’t know what to do.’
Earlier this week, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that TSA workers will miss another payment on March 27.
‘This is gonna look like child’s play, what’s happening right now,’ Duffy told CNBC on Thursday.
Atlanta’s airport has had the highest average callout rate during the shutdown so far at 21.5 percent
More than 1,300 delays and 430 cancelations had been reported nationwide, as of Saturday morning
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned earlier this week that the delays and travel chaos could still get worse, with TSA workers set to miss another paycheck on March 27
He said small airports could shut down unless a lawmakers reach a compromise to end the partial government shutdown.
‘You’re going to see extensive lines, and air travel’s going to come to a grid halt stop,’ Duffy said.
TSA’s acting deputy administrator, Adam Stahl, has also warned that entire airports could come to a halt.
‘It’s not hyperbole to suggest that we may have to quite literally shut down airports, particularly smaller ones, if call-out rates go up,’ Stahl said.
‘The reality of the situation is this is going to get worse before it gets better, if we don’t see any sort of action,’ he added.
A bill to fund the DHS failed to advance Friday in the Senate.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said he would offer an alternative measure on Saturday to fund just the TSA, as lawmakers hold a rare weekend session.
The Daily Mail has reached out to the DHS for comment on the shutdown and delays.
