Denver airport seeking gift card donations for TSA staff working without pay

UNITED STATES, March 19 — DENVER — Denver International Airport (DIA) is asking for gift card donations to support the Transportation Security Administration employees working without pay during the partial federal government shutdown. The airport said it is seeking grocery store and gas in denominations of $10 or $20 from stores like King Soopers, Safeway, Walmart, Costco, and Target. Visa gift cards cannot be accepted, the airport said.

Collection bins and secure lock boxes are located in the Great Hall of the Jeppeson Terminal and the Final Approach Cell Phone Lot until the shutdown ends. On Friday, the vast majority of TSA workers received zero-dollar paychecks. Two weeks before, during the previous pay cycle, the same employees received only partial pay.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, funding and resources were cut for nearly all Transportation Security Administration workers, as well as air traffic controllers and U. S. customs clearance officers.

Airports have cautioned passengers to expect longer security lines , particularly as spring break travel ramps up in coming weeks. Ten airline executives wrote a letter to Congress , urging them to resolve the ongoing partial government shutdown that would restore pay for federal aviation workers. “[DIA's] federal employees are working tirelessly to ensure our airport operates efficiently and safely without getting paid.

TSA employees just missed their first paycheck, and as we enter a busy spring break travel period, we want to do what we can to ease the stress of this moment,” said DIA CEO Phil Washington. “That’s why we are calling on the public, our passengers, and other airport employees to donate grocery store and gas gift cards to help make this moment a little more bearable for these federal workers. ” Officers will be eligible for back pay once the shutdown ends.