Nonprofits, unions rally to feed TSA officers during shutdown

Charities, airports, and labor groups step up to support unpaid federal workers

Mar. 22, 2026 at 11:18pm

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Across the country, nonprofits, unions, and airports are providing meals, food boxes, and other assistance to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers who have been working without pay for over a month due to the partial government shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security.

Why it matters

The government shutdown has left over 120,000 DHS employees, including 50,000 TSA officers, working without pay. This has created significant financial hardship for these federal workers, prompting a grassroots response from charities, labor groups, and airport authorities to help meet their basic needs.

The details

Nonprofits like World Central Kitchen, Feeding San Diego, and Operation Food Search are coordinating with airports to distribute food, household items, and other essentials directly to TSA officers. Unions like AFGE Local 554 are also accepting donations to distribute to their members. Airports like Seattle-Tacoma have set up private pantries and are working with vendors to provide discounted or donated meals for off-duty TSA staff.

  • The partial government shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security began on March 22, 2026.
  • Saturday, March 23, 2026 marks the 36th day of the shutdown.

The players

World Central Kitchen

A charity organization more accustomed to feeding those in war zones and disaster areas, which started providing meals to Washington, D.C.-area airports for TSA officers.

Feeding San Diego

A nonprofit that began distributing 400 food boxes with pasta, beans, peanut butter, and fresh produce to affected TSA agents near the San Diego airport.

Operation Food Search

A Missouri hunger relief nonprofit working closely with the TSA to safely deliver food and set up a temporary pantry at St. Louis Lambert International Airport.

AFGE Local 554

A TSA officer union in Georgia that can accept donations to distribute to its members, as federal employees are prohibited from accepting gifts directly.

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

An airport that has been fielding donations from PETA and local food banks, while also working with dining vendors to provide discounted or donated meals for off-duty TSA staff.

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What they’re saying

“We need to work directly with the people who have direct access to these employees and get this food to them at a time and location that is most convenient to them.”

— Carissa Casares, from Feeding San Diego

“For some people it can be life or death. It's just sad and terrible that this is happening.”

— Aaron Barker, president of the AFGE Local 554 in Georgia

“You know a lot of these people. You see faces and that throughout the day as you're wandering through. And then to realize that some of these folks are here and they're not getting paid, you know, really tugs at your heart to think what's a way that we can help.”

— Perry Cooper, airport spokesperson for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This crisis highlights the financial hardship faced by federal workers during government shutdowns, and the critical role that charities, unions, and local communities can play in supporting them when their paychecks stop. As the shutdown drags on, the need for this grassroots assistance is likely to grow.