"Musk floated the proposal publicly on March 21, posting on X that he wanted '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.'"
"'We greatly appreciate Elon's generous offer,' Jackson wrote in an email to Fortune. 'This would pose great legal challenges due to his involvement with federal government contracts.'"
"The Transportation Security Administration said Wednesday that wait times have hit the worst levels in the agency's history, with some passengers waiting more than four and a half hours to clear security."
"At some major airports, 40% to 50% of officers have called out on certain days, forcing the agency to consolidate screening lanes and scale back operations."
Elon Musk proposed to fund TSA workers' salaries during a government shutdown affecting airport security. The White House declined the offer, citing legal issues related to federal contracts. TSA wait times have reached record levels, with some passengers waiting over four hours. The agency has lost over 480 security officers since the funding lapse began. Major airports like Atlanta and New York are experiencing significant staffing shortages, leading to operational cutbacks. The administration has deployed ICE agents to assist at airports, which has received mixed reactions.
Read at Fortune
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