Elon Musk Offers to Cover Pay For TSA Agents as Shutdown Drags On

Maverick Democrat senator says shutdown 'should never' have 'come to this point'

Mar. 21, 2026 at 4:09pm

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Elon Musk has offered to cover the salaries of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) personnel during the ongoing partial government shutdown. This comes as the shutdown has resulted in staffing shortages and long airport lines nationwide, raising concerns about the ability to prevent attacks. Senator John Fetterman, a maverick Democrat, has responded positively to Musk's offer, saying the shutdown 'should never' have 'come to this point'.

Why it matters

The ongoing government shutdown has had a significant impact on TSA operations, with staffing shortages and long wait times at major airports across the country. Musk's offer to cover TSA salaries highlights the growing concerns over the shutdown's effects on national security and the willingness of private individuals to step in and support federal workers.

The details

Musk announced his offer to pay TSA salaries on X (formerly Twitter), stating he '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.' Senator Fetterman, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, responded positively to the offer, calling it 'incredibly generous' and noting that 'TSA agents across the country are relying on food pantries and community donations to get by.' Fetterman also broke with his party's lines on other issues, such as immigration and the Iran war.

  • The partial government shutdown has been ongoing for over a month.
  • On Saturday morning, Musk made his offer to cover TSA salaries.

The players

Elon Musk

An entrepreneur and the CEO of companies like Tesla and SpaceX.

John Fetterman

A Democratic senator from Pennsylvania who has been described as a maverick for breaking with his party on certain issues.

George Borek

The leader of the TSA Union, who has warned that security risks at airports are only going to 'get worse' due to retirements and a hiring freeze at the agency.

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— Elon Musk

“This is incredibly generous. TSA agents across the country are relying on food pantries and community donations to get by. I remain the lone Dem to vote with my Republican colleagues to fully fund DHS and get people paid.”

— John Fetterman, Senator

“It should never come to this point.”

— John Fetterman, Senator

What’s next

It remains unclear how Musk's pay proposal would work or whether it would be legally possible for a private individual to fund federal workers.

The takeaway

Musk's offer to cover TSA salaries during the government shutdown highlights the growing concerns over the shutdown's impact on national security and the willingness of private individuals to step in and support federal workers. The situation also underscores the political divisions within the Democratic party, as seen in Senator Fetterman's maverick stance.