North Texas TSA officers receive donations as the government shutdown creates financial stress.
TSA officers in North Texas are working without pay during a partial government shutdown as spring break travel peaks. Donations from union partners are helping some workers get by, but financial strain is growing and staffing shortages are affecting wait times nationwide.
NBC 5’s Alicia Barrera has more. The financial strain of a partial government shutdown is taking a toll on TSA officers in North Texas, as workers struggle to make ends meet while working without pay. In response, air traffic controllers — who have faced similar challenges in the past — are stepping in to help. This week, they organized a donation drive to support TSA officers at Dallas Love Field and DFW Airport.Boxes filled with noodles, snacks and even detergent were delivered to workers in need, offering some relief during an ongoing funding standoff in Washington. "We are so grateful for our friends at the Air Traffic Controllers Union," Johnny Jones, TSA Union, said.Unlike some other airports, North Texas has not established a public donation initiative. Federal rules also limit certain types of contributions, including a $20 maximum on gift cards, making it more difficult to provide help like gas or grocery funds."Make sure that you are letting someone know and make sure that you go and talk to supervisors or let an officer know that you need to speak to them to do a donation," Cruz said. As lawmakers on Capitol Hill remain divided over Department of Homeland Security funding, workers on the ground say the impact goes beyond politics.The strain is also affecting airport operations nationwide. TSA wait times are increasing at major airports, including Houston, Atlanta and New York, as some federal workers call out or seek other sources of income. TSA officers are among the lowest-paid federal employees, with a starting salary of about $40,000 in the DFW area, according to a 2023 TSA recruiting memo. Cruz said many workers are now juggling mounting financial pressures while continuing to report for duty. "They're still having to pay the consequences of late fees, interest, eviction notices. They are having to pay all these while still worrying about doing the job," Cruz said.This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC DFW. AI tools helped convert the story into a digital article, and an NBC DFW journalist edited it again before publication.
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