Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has offered to cover the paychecks of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers as the United States faces a prolonged federal budget impasse that has left key security personnel working without pay, Reuters reports.
Musk said in a post on his social media platform X that he 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.”
The funding deadlock stems from a dispute in Congress over the budget for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees TSA, and has now entered its fifth week. Because of the lapse, TSA officers are facing the prospect of missing their second full paycheck in six months.
TSA employees, who screen passengers and luggage at U.S. airports, earn an average annual salary of about $61,000. Despite working without pay, many have continued to show up for duty as long security lines build at major airports nationwide due to staffing shortages.
Representatives for DHS, the TSA, and Musk did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the proposal.
Airlines and travel groups have warned that continued absences among TSA’s roughly 50,000 security officers could worsen disruptions for travelers unless the funding stalemate is resolved. Bipartisan negotiators in Congress have narrowed disagreements over DHS funding but have yet to finalize a deal.
Musk’s offer comes amid broader political tensions over homeland security funding, including rival proposals from political leaders on how to address airport security and immigration enforcement as part of negotiations.