Elon Musk Offered To Pay Unpaid TSA Staff—The White House Said No

Elon Musk’s offer to cover the salaries of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers during a partial government shutdown has been declined by the White House, sources tell CBS News.

The billionaire entrepreneur publicly proposed the intervention in mid-March as the funding impasse threatened to leave thousands of federal employees without pay. But officials cited legal complications and the expectation that the shutdown would end shortly.

The news came after the partial closure of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) forced TSA employees across the country to work without full pay. Many airport security staff have already missed a full paycheck, while the only payment received during the shutdown was a partial salary issued early on.

The shutdown, which began roughly six weeks ago, has disrupted travel and raised concerns over operational strain on frontline airport personnel.

Musk first announced his intention on X, formerly known as Twitter, 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.’

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

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 21, 2026

President Trump appeared supportive, telling reporters, ‘I’d love it. I think it’s great. Let him do that.’

Legal Hurdles Block Musk’s Proposed Payroll Aid

While the White House acknowledged the generosity of Musk’s proposal, officials flagged significant legal obstacles.

Because Musk holds multiple federal government contracts, providing funds to DHS employees directly could breach federal ethics rules. Administration insiders also explored whether Musk could instead contribute to the government’s general fund, which could then be used for salaries.

However, the US Office of Government Ethics prohibits private individuals from paying government employees directly. Citizens can contribute only via a specific account known as ‘Gifts to the U.S. Government,’ which allows funds to be allocated for federal budget needs.

A White House spokesperson, Abigail Jackson, said: ‘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.’

Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, reiterated the administration’s position, placing responsibility for the impasse on 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.’

No Clear End for DHS Partial Shutdown

The financial impact on TSA workers has been severe. Acting TSA leadership reported that, by Friday, the combined loss in wages from the current 40-day shutdown and a 43-day closure last autumn would total around £850 million ($1 billion). Elon Musk’s offer to cover salaries was valued at roughly £210 million ($250 million), but legal hurdles would have delayed any payment.

Officials have not said whether other solutions are being explored to cover the payroll gap. DHS spokespersons did not respond to CBS News requests, nor did Musk.

As of 26 March 2026, there’s no clear end in sight for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown, which began on 14 February 2026 and has now lasted more than six weeks. Lawmakers in Washington remain deadlocked over funding, with negotiations repeatedly stalling over immigration policy and budget priorities.

A Senate funding deal fell apart this week, prolonging the impasse and leaving key agencies operating without pay.

Both parties blame one another for the logjam.

Democrats are pushing to exclude or reform funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as part of their counteroffer. Senate Democrats have repeatedly rejected Republican funding proposals that would leave ICE enforcement untouched, demanding ‘guardrails’ and accountability measures for immigration enforcement as a condition for their votes.

Republicans, on the other hand, are generally proposing funding packages that cover TSA, FEMA, Coast Guard, and other DHS units while leaving ICE funding for a separate reconciliation process—but without the reforms Democrats insist on.

Airport disruptions and staffing shortages are worsening, and some TSA workers predict the shutdown could extend into April or beyond unless Congress reaches a compromise.

Originally published on IBTimes UK