As the U.S. government shutdown drags on, hundreds of thousands of federal employees are caught in limbo, forced to keep working without pay or furloughed until funding resumes. Among the most visible are Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers, who continue screening passengers at airports nationwide despite missed paychecks.
Many travelers want to show gratitude or offer help, but strict federal ethics rules make that complicated. TSA workers cannot accept gifts directly, even during a shutdown. Yet some airports are finding creative, compliant ways for the public to lend support.
Why TSA Officers Can’t Accept Gifts Directly
Federal ethics regulations restrict what gifts federal employees can receive. They may only accept unsolicited gifts valued at $20 or less from one source at a time, with an annual limit of $50. Cash, prepaid cards, or anything considered a “cash equivalent” is strictly prohibited.
The TSA clarified the rule in an internal memo obtained by Gate Access. The memo states that screening operations employees are prohibited from accepting gifts of any value while on duty at a TSA security screening location. This policy ensures consistency and prevents ethical conflicts across all federal security posts.
In other words, even a small act of kindness, such as handing an officer a coffee or a gift card, could violate agency rules. Instead, gifts must go through a supervisor or an authorized airport collection system under TSA’s gift-acceptance authority.
How Travelers Can Help The Right Way
Although direct giving is off-limits, airports and community groups have stepped up with coordinated donation drives that comply with federal policy. These efforts channel public goodwill into structured support systems for unpaid TSA and FAA employees. For example, Denver International Airport has created a food and essentials pantry for federal employees, accepting non-perishable groceries, toiletries, and merchant gift cards dropped off at designated points. Orlando International Airport has launched a similar initiative, collecting food items, pet supplies, and $10 grocery or gas gift cards through secure airport channels.
At the Piedmont Triad International Airport (PTI) in North Carolina, authorities set up a five-day donation drive beginning November 3 that invited community members to drop off non-perishable food, toiletries, and baby supplies in a designated location. Similarly, at Boise Airport (BOI) in Idaho, a food drive has been announced to benefit TSA and other federal workers missing paychecks. According to KIVI TV, the city reported that airport workers “have not received a full paycheck in more than a month.”
And, per 6abc, at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), a food distribution event hosted by the Community Food Bank of New Jersey helped TSA officers and air-traffic controllers who are missing paychecks. On the airline side, Breeze Airways employees surprised TSA agents at RSW Airport with food donations and support, Gulf Coast News reports.
What Not to Do
Even in a crisis, TSA officers must follow ethics rules. Handing an officer cash, large gift cards, or even food directly at a checkpoint can trigger disciplinary review. The U.S. Office of Government Ethics makes clear that individual employees cannot accept gifts from anyone affected by their official duties, which includes every passenger they screen.
Travelers should also avoid giving high-value items, posting photos of individual officers receiving donations, or bypassing airport-approved collection bins. These restrictions exist to protect both workers and travelers, maintain fairness, ensure security, and uphold the professional integrity of TSA operations.
Why Supporting TSA Officials Matters
As the 2025 federal government shutdown stretches into its second month, the strain on essential aviation-security personnel has become increasingly visible. According to Reuters, at least 60,000 aviation safety staff, including TSA officers and air traffic controllers, are working unpaid during the current shutdown.
In one high-profile case at Harry Reid International Airport (Las Vegas), TSA workers continue to report for full shifts even as the shutdown enters its 37th day and many struggle to cover rent, groceries, and other basic expenses. That’s why traveler-led support programs matter. When airports establish donation bins, food pantries, gift-card drives, or other relief initiatives, and travelers drop off items — whether toiletries, non-perishable food, baby or pet supplies, or modest gas/grocery gift cards — they help alleviate some of the immediate financial pressure on TSA staff and other essential workers.
The support helps keep the system functioning. In essence, structured donor support can help staff focus on their duties rather than worry about “how to pay this month’s bills.”
