By CNBCTV18.com — March 23, 2026
Billionaire Elon Musk offered to cover Transportation Security Administration (TSA) salaries as a funding deadlock stretches into another week, leaving many airport security officers unpaid and contributing to longer lines and delays at some US airports.
In a post on X on March 21, Musk wrote, “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.” There was no immediate response from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the TSA or Musk’s representatives.
The funding gap, now in its fifth week, has put many TSA officers close to missing a second full paycheck in six months. Roughly 50,000 TSA employees work at US airports; absences have begun to rise and airlines warn staffing shortfalls could worsen. At several locations wait times have stretched for hours, prompting concern and, at some airports, food drives and donation drives to support officers coping with unpaid wages. Federal data put the average TSA salary at about $61,000 a year.
The dispute centers on DHS funding. Lawmakers approved funding for most federal operations earlier this year but left DHS out amid political tensions related to immigration enforcement. Talks in Washington continue, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune said differences had narrowed, but no final agreement has been announced. Similar situations have occurred before — during a previous shutdown a private donor reportedly offered to cover military pay — and there is still no clear timeline for restoring DHS funding.
For now, many TSA officers continue to report for duty despite missed pay, and Musk’s offer—whether symbolic or actionable—adds another element to an already strained situation.
(Edited by Sudarsanan Mani)
