By Enyichukwu Enemanna
CEO of Tesla, Elon Musk on Saturday volunteered to pay outstanding salaries of security personnel at US airports, who were affected by delay in release of funds, arising from political impasse between the Republicans and the opposition Democrats.
The development has left the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) without funding to carry out its mandates.
This has led to long queues at airport security checks, where employees of the Transportation Security Agency (TSA) have been working without pay since mid-February.
“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,” the tech tycoon posted on X.
The TSA, which operates under the authority of Department of Homeland Security, comprises about 65,000 employees, its official website indicates.
Various estimates put its annual payroll at somewhere between $2.5 billion and $3 billion.
Democrats in Congress are challenging any new funding for DHS until changes are effected on how another agency under its remit, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), carry our immigration enforcement raids. ICE a creation of President Donald Trump has come under scrutiny over allegations of rights violation.
Arising from the non-payment of salaries, more than 300 TSA officials have already left the agency, according to the DHS,
The US media also reported that absence without leave has more than doubled since the shutdown began on February 14.
Some officers are taking on second jobs or relying on donations, union officials say, while several major airports are collecting gift cards and stocking food pantries for TSA staff struggling without pay.
Before approving funding for DHS, Democratic lawmakers have insisted on curtailed patrols, a ban on ICE agents wearing face masks and a requirement that they obtain a judicial warrant before entering private property.
After the killing of two American citizens protesting aggressive ICE raids in Minneapolis in January, Trump fired homeland security chief Kristi Noem, but the immigration enforcement agency remains deeply unpopular for many Americans, an AFP report says.
