Denver Airport Asks Travelers to Donate Gift Cards to Unpaid TSA Workers

The request comes as the partial government shutdown continues, leaving thousands of TSA officers working without pay.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 8:53pm

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The Denver International Airport (DEN) has gone viral for asking travelers to donate $10 gift cards to TSA workers who are working without pay due to the ongoing partial government shutdown. The lack of pay is causing some TSA officers to call out sick, leading to longer security lines at the airport.

Why it matters

The request highlights the difficult situation facing federal workers, including TSA officers, who are deemed "essential" and required to work without pay during the government shutdown. It also raises questions about the role of the public in supporting government workers when political gridlock leads to these kinds of disruptions.

The details

The Department of Homeland Security has been in a partial government shutdown for approximately 27 days, forcing roughly 50,000 TSA officers to work without pay. This lack of pay is starting to impact staffing, with more TSA workers calling out sick and leading to longer security lines at airports like Denver International. In response, DEN has asked travelers to donate $10 gift cards to support the unpaid TSA workers.

  • The partial government shutdown has been ongoing for approximately 27 days as of March 12, 2026.
  • DEN posted the request for gift card donations on Thursday, March 12, 2026.

The players

Denver International Airport (DEN)

A major international airport serving the Denver metropolitan area.

Department of Homeland Security

The federal department responsible for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

TSA Officers

Approximately 50,000 federal transportation security workers who are deemed "essential" and required to work without pay during the government shutdown.

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What they’re saying

“A major U.S. airport is asking travelers to donate gift cards to TSA workers who are working through a government shutdown and are not receiving paychecks.”

— Seung Min Kim, AP Reporter (Twitter)

What’s next

The Denver airport has not provided any information on how travelers can actually donate the gift cards to TSA workers or what will happen to the donations.

The takeaway

The request from the Denver airport highlights the difficult situation facing federal workers, including TSA officers, who are deemed "essential" and required to work without pay during the government shutdown. It raises questions about the role of the public in supporting government workers when political gridlock leads to these kinds of disruptions.