Billionaire Elon Musk’s offer to pay TSA personnel during the partial government shutdown poses “great legal challenges,” according to the White House.
The world’s richest man recently shared a social media post offering to pay TSA employees amid the Department of Homeland Security shutdown, which began in mid-February after lawmakers failed to reach a deal on funding the agency. TSA employees are working without pay which has led to staffing shortages and long security lines at airports nationwide.
“I would like to offer to pay the salaries of TSA personnel during this funding impasse that is negatively affecting the lives of so many Americans at airports throughout the country,” Musk wrote Monday on his X platform.
The White House has now rejected Musk’s offer, CBS News first reported Wednesday.
When asked about the decision, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson told The Independent: “We greatly appreciate Elon’s generous offer. This would pose great legal challenges due to his involvement with federal government contracts.”
“The fastest way to ensure TSA employees — and all DHS employees — get paid is for Democrats to fund the Department of Homeland Security,” she added.
This comes after President Donald Trump praised Musk’s offer earlier this week.
“I’d love it. I think it’s great. Let him do that,” the president told reporters Monday.
The Independent has requested comment from Musk.
Many TSA agents live paycheck to paycheck, which means they’re now struggling to pay for rent, groceries and other necessities, Acting TSA Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill said Wednesday in a statement to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
“Officers are reportedly sleeping in their cars at airports to save gas money, selling their blood and plasma, and taking on second and third jobs to make ends meet, all while expected to perform at the highest level when in uniform to protect the traveling public,” McNeill said.
“Many have received eviction notices, lost their childcare, missed bill payments and been charged late fees, damaged their credit, defaulted on loans, and have been unable to even qualify for a loan to help ease the financial burden during the shutdown,” she added.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Wednesday that Senate Democrats are to blame for not cutting a deal with Republicans and the president to fund the agency.
“We have attempted in good faith numerous times … to go to the Democrats with reasonable offers,” she said. “The cruelty is the point. They want this chaos.”
Democrats are calling for reforms to immigration enforcement tactics before agreeing to approve funding for the agency.
Trump may send in National Guard members to assist in airports, he announced Wednesday on Truth Social. The president also praised the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents who have been deployed to more than a dozen airports across the country.
“Thank you to our great ICE Patriots for helping. It makes a big difference,” he wrote.
