The White House is shutting down a high-profile offer that could have temporarily eased the financial strain on airport workers nationwide. Officials declined a proposal from Elon Musk to personally cover wages for Transportation Security Administration employees during the ongoing government shutdown.
Musk publicly floated the idea, writing, “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.” The suggestion even got support from Donald Trump, who told reporters, “I’d love it. I think it’s great. Let him do that.”
Still, administration officials ultimately stepped back from the idea. Federal ethics rules make it illegal for private individuals to directly pay government workers, and insiders also raised concerns about Musk’s existing business ties with the government. There were discussions about routing funds through federal channels, but that path also came with complications.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt pointed to the bigger political fight, saying, “It’s the Democrats who have led to this stalemate over the past six weeks,” while pushing for funding for the Department of Homeland Security.
Meanwhile, TSA workers are now facing a second missed paycheck, with financial losses stacking up fast.
So while the offer sounded like a quick solution, Washington made it clear this situation won’t be solved that easily.
