The White House declined an offer from Elon Musk to cover the salaries of unpaid Transportation Security Administration workers during the ongoing Department of Homeland Security shutdown, citing legal constraints tied to federal ethics rules and government contracting.
Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur, had proposed stepping in as thousands of TSA employees went weeks without full pay during the partial shutdown that began on February 14. Posting on X, he 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."
President Donald Trump initially signaled support for the idea, telling reporters, "I'd love it. I think it's great. Let him do that." The proposal, however, was ultimately rejected after internal review by administration officials.
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said the plan faced insurmountable legal barriers. "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 said.
At issue is federal law governing outside payments to government employees. Because Musk's companies hold multiple federal contracts, any direct financial support to TSA personnel could violate ethics rules. Officials examined whether contributions could instead be routed through the federal "Gifts to the U.S. Government" account, but that mechanism would not have provided immediate payroll relief.
The rejection comes as the shutdown enters its sixth week, leaving roughly 50,000 TSA officers working without full compensation. Acting agency officials estimate the combined wage loss from the current shutdown and a previous 43-day closure last year has reached approximately $1 billion.
Key figures from the ongoing disruption include:
- Estimated TSA wage losses: $1 billion
- Musk's proposed contribution: $250 million
- Duration of shutdown: more than 40 days
The financial strain on workers has translated into operational stress across the nation's airports. Staffing shortages have intensified as some employees struggle to cover basic expenses, contributing to longer wait times and concerns about system resilience during peak travel periods.
Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, attributed the impasse to congressional Democrats. "It's the Democrats who have led to this stalemate over the past six weeks," she said. "The president and the Republicans' position has been very clear: fund the Department of Homeland Security."
Negotiations in Washington remain stalled, with disagreements centered on immigration enforcement policy and funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Democrats have sought to attach reforms and accountability measures, while Republicans have pushed for broader DHS funding without those conditions.
A Senate funding agreement collapsed earlier this week, extending the shutdown and leaving agencies including TSA, FEMA and the Coast Guard operating under constrained conditions. DHS officials have not outlined alternative mechanisms to address the payroll gap.
