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This interview is based on a conversation with Sharre Quick, who is a TSA agent in Nevada. It has been edited for length and clarity.I have worked for the Transportation Security Administration for years.
Every day, I put on my uniform and report to work to help keep America's travelers safe.Like thousands of other officers across the country, I am part of the workforce that protects our skies through the Department of Homeland Security.But right now, I am doing that job without being paid. My last paycheck was $4.27.The first time I experienced a government shutdown while working in the DHS, I had to swallow my pride and visit food pantries organized by my employer to help TSA officers who suddenly had no income. I never imagined that protecting the country would one day mean standing in line for food.What makes this even harder is that federal employees like me cannot simply go find another job to make ends meet. We must receive prior approval before working anywhere else. That means when the government stops paying us, we are essentially stuck, expected to work full time without a paycheck while our bills continue to pile up.The reality is that there were only three months between government shutdown threats and instability before we were right back in the same position again. Three months is not enough time to rebuild savings, pay off loans, or recover financially from the last crisis.My recent paychecks are not enough to buy a gallon of gas in my city. It's certainly not enough to feed a family, pay rent, or keep the lights on. Yet like every other TSA officer, I am still expected to show up to work.Meanwhile, the world outside government keeps moving. Rent is still due. Utility bills still arrive. Groceries still cost what they cost. And bill collectors do not care that federal workers are not being paid.The financial stress has taken a real toll. I'm exhausted, stressed, and physically ill from the anxiety of trying to survive while doing a job that requires focus, vigilance, and professionalism. We are responsible for protecting millions of passengers, but we are doing it while wondering how we will pay for our next meal.When people travel through the airport, they see TSA officers checking bags, scanning boarding passes, and monitoring security lines.While they thank us for our service, what they don't see is the burden many of us are experiencing as we wonder how we will pay our bills.Yes, we are government employees. But we are also private citizens with families, rent, car payments, and medical bills. We are expected to report to work every day, even without pay, because our jobs are considered essential. But the financial strain is crushing, and I sometimes feel like no one cares.The safety of our nation's transportation system should never depend on workers who are struggling to survive. Because when the government shuts down, the consequences don't just appear in Washington. They show up in paychecks like mine.
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