- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Airports Launch Donation Drives to Support Unpaid TSA Officers
Airports across the U.S. set up gift card and food pantry programs to assist Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers working without pay during the DHS funding crisis.
Mar. 12, 2026 at 8:10pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
As the lapse in funding at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) continues, many Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers are struggling financially. Airports nationwide have launched donation drives to support these unpaid federal workers, setting up gift card collections and food pantries to provide critical resources.
Why it matters
The DHS funding crisis has put TSA officers in a difficult position, forcing them to work without pay. These donation drives at airports aim to provide much-needed assistance to the TSA workforce, who are vital to maintaining airport security and public safety.
The details
Airports like Denver International, Reno-Tahoe International, and Seattle-Tacoma International have established programs to collect donations for TSA officers. They are accepting $10 and $20 grocery store and gas gift cards, as well as non-perishable food, hygiene items, and diapers. Over 300 airport security officers have left TSA since the start of the DHS shutdown, with callouts rising to an average of 6% during this period.
- The DHS funding lapse began in early 2026.
- Donation drives at airports started popping up across the country in response to the crisis.
The players
Deondre White
A TSA officer at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington, D.C. who is struggling financially due to the lack of pay.
Cris Jensen
The President and CEO of the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority, who announced a partnership with the Children's Cabinet to deliver groceries and other resources to impacted federal employees.
What they’re saying
“We are incredibly grateful to our TSA officers at RNO, who continue to show up every day to keep our community safe, even while facing uncertainty. Their commitment to public safety does not go unnoticed, and we appreciate our community and the Children's Cabinet for stepping up to support them.”
— Cris Jensen, President and CEO, Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority (Press Release)
“I'm thankful for my family to be able to come to work and be able to provide gas [to travel to work] because the gas prices have been rising. However, there are a lot of officers here who do not have those resources or family commitments from others [to help them out].”
— Deondre White, TSA Officer (Fox News Digital)
What’s next
The DHS funding crisis is ongoing, and airports will likely continue their donation drives to support TSA officers until the situation is resolved.
The takeaway
These donation drives at airports demonstrate the community's commitment to supporting federal workers who are facing financial hardship due to the DHS funding lapse. The programs provide critical resources to TSA officers, who are essential to maintaining airport security and public safety.
