White House turns down Elon Musk’s offer to pay TSA workers during DHS shutdown
The White House rejected an offer from billionaire Elon Musk to pay TSA workers during a partial government shutdown it has travelers disrupted at the airport across the country, multiple sources told CBS News.
The suggestion was taken seriously by Trump administration officials, but Musk could face legal challenges to cover the salary, even indirectly, because of Musk’s various government contracts, a source said.
Another reason: White House officials believe the partial shutdown should end soon, according to sources.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt blamed Democrats for the shutdown and called for funding to be restored.
“It’s the Democrats who have driven this impasse over the last six weeks,” Leavitt said Wednesday. “The position of the president and the Republicans has been very clear: fund the Department of Homeland Security.”
In a post published on Saturday
President Trump told reporters Monday: “I would love that. I think it’s great. Let him do that.”
The cost would be around $250 million, two sources said.
Homeland Security spokespeople did not immediately comment; Neither does Musk.
Administration officials questioned whether Musk could contribute the money to the government’s general fund, which could then be used to pay workers. According to the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, it is legally against an outside person to pay government employees directly.
However, citizens can donate through an account called “Gifts to the U.S. Government.”
The money may be available for budgetary needs, according to the U.S. Treasury.
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told CBS News, “We greatly appreciate Elon’s generous offer,” but added, “It would pose significant legal challenges because of his involvement in federal government contracts.” The quickest way to ensure that TSA employees – and all DHS employees – get paid is for Democrats to defund the Department of Homeland Security.
TSA workers are about to miss their second full paycheck since the partial shutdown began. The only pay they received was half pay near the start of the shutdown.
The TSA’s acting chief said Wednesday that as of Friday, the agency’s employees will have lost $1 billion in revenue during this 40-day shutdown and last fall’s 43-day shutdown.
