TSA employees, who have been working for nearly two months without pay, are being asked to return the gift cards they received from Tyler Perry.
Tyler Perry handed out gift cards to TSA employees at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
As 11 Alive reported, Perry opted to hand out gift cards after being told that TSA employees are not allowed to accept cash gifts directly—prompting the director to reach out to airport officials in an effort to help in another way. He then came back with gift cards valued at $1,000 each.
Over the weekend, however, airport officials told those TSA agents that they have to return any gifts they received from Perry since they are not legally allowed to accept gifts.
Why are TSA employees working without pay?
TSA employees continue to face financial hardships as they remain without payments due to the partial government shutdown that has been lingering for over six weeks. As a result, many TSA agents have quit their jobs.
The partial shutdown started on February 14 after Democrats sent a letter to Republican leaders, demanding a list of changes they want to see in ICE tactics. The demands outlined in the letter included body cameras for ICE agents and making sure they don’t wear face coverings. Republicans, however, have not yet agreed to their demands.
The stalemate between the two parties has led to the ongoing shutdown, which has forced TSA to work without pay. However, ICE agents are still getting paid because they are funded by Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, according to PBS News.