As the partial government shutdown continues and Transportation Security Administration officers work without pay, many are struggling to stay afloat financially.
The partial shutdown began in mid-February after Congress failed to pass funding for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees TSA. Roughly 50,000 TSA officers are continuing to work but without regular pay during the funding lapse, raising concerns about staffing shortages and absenteeism as spring break travel ramps up.
"Numerous employees have reported to me that their bank accounts are at zero or negative," Johnny Jones, Secretary-Treasurer of AFGE TSA Council 100 and a Dallas-based TSA worker, told USA TODAY. "No funds for daycare, no funds for food. They just want to know why the hell they can’t get paid when we have money to shoot missiles into other countries."
Friday, March 13, will be the first time TSA workers miss their full paychecks.
As TSA officers work to find ways to bridge their own financial gaps, Jones acknowledged that airport security lines have gotten longer.
