The White House has declined Elon Musk’s offer to cover the salaries of TSA workers during the partial government shutdown, according to CBS News. The decision comes as TSA employees are set to miss their second full paycheck since the shutdown began.
CBS News reported that Trump administration officials seriously considered the proposal but concluded it could create legal problems because of Musk’s federal government contracts. Officials also believe the shutdown is likely to end soon, according to the report.
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said the administration appreciated Musk’s offer, but said it would pose legal challenges. She said the fastest way to ensure TSA workers and other Department of Homeland Security employees are paid is for Democrats to restore DHS funding. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt also blamed Democrats for the standoff and urged Congress to fund the department.
Musk floated the idea in a post on X on Saturday, saying he wanted to pay TSA workers during the funding impasse because of the effect on travelers across the country. President Trump later told reporters Monday that he supported the idea.
CBS News reported that covering TSA pay would cost about $250 million. The report said administration officials also discussed whether Musk could instead contribute money to the government’s general fund, which could then be used to pay the workers. But an outside individual cannot directly pay government employees, according to the U.S. Office of Government Ethics.
TSA workers have received only one half-paycheck since the shutdown started. The acting head of the agency said Wednesday that employees will have lost a combined $1 billion in income during the current 40-day shutdown and the separate 43-day shutdown last fall.
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