As North Texas TSA officers work without pay amid the government shutdown, food banks provide aid to struggling families, highlighting the ongoing financial strain.
DALLAS, Texas — Travelers at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport continue moving through security lines with relatively few delays, even as Transportation Security Administration officers enter another week without pay during the ongoing government shutdown.
Unlike some major airports across the country, passengers at DFW are experiencing smoother travel. Behind the scenes, however, TSA workers say the financial strain is becoming increasingly difficult.
“We will run out of money, too. We are thinking that in May we will really be in trouble,” Johnny Jones said.
Jones is a TSA Agent and also represents many of his coworkers as a union official on the local and national level, serving as president and secretary, respectively. Just like some of his coworkers, they are eyeing the future and the impact it will have on their families and finances now and later down the road.
To help mitigate the impact, organizations such as the Tarrant Area Food Bank and the North Texas Food Bank are providing free food to TSA employees and their families.
“After missing a month or a month and a half of pay, it will take time for employees, TSA workers, and their families to bounce back,” Dr. Jared Williams said.
The Tarrant Area Food Bank is a Fort Worth–based nonprofit that serves 13 counties across North Texas, providing millions of meals each year through a network of partner agencies. The North Texas Food Bank is headquartered in Plano and serves a large portion of the Dallas area, distributing food through pantries, schools, and community organizations.
Even without paychecks, TSA agents based at DFW and Dallas Love Field are continuing to support operations nationwide, with some traveling to assist at busier or more heavily impacted airports.
“Some of my colleagues reached out saying, ‘Hey, I am going to Houston to help out,” Johnny Jones said.
There may now be a potential shift in Washington. Donald Trump has signed an order aimed at ensuring TSA employees receive pay, offering a possible path forward for workers who have gone weeks without income.
“Don’t let this short-term problem become a long-term issue,” Jones said.