Many airports, airlines and community groups have been helping out federal workers working without pay at airports by setting up food pantries and making gift cards, diapers and other basic necessitites available.
Members of the public are helping out too. And, if you’re so inclined, TSA has shared this information about the proper way to do that.
Many airports around the country – and the world – have a great time celebrating Halloween.
The Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) is joining the list of airports organizing and paying for food and supply pantries to assist federal employees who are not being paid during the federal government shutdown.
These workers include Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) workers who are considered essentional workers and are required to work without pay.
The pantry is located in the SLC Dept of Airports office and includes everything from bread and pasta to diapers and toilet paper, toothpaste and laundry detergent.
SLC airport officials say they plan to restock and keep the pantry open as long as the federal shutdown is in place.
Some of the other airports that have already put together pantries and support programs for these workers include Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) and El Paso International Airport (ELP).
Several airports will be rolling out similiar programs next week.
Meanwhile, there’s a long – and growing – list of airports that are refusing to run a video at security checkpoints in which Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem blames Democrats for the continuation of the federal government shutdown.
In Detroit, the Wayne County Airport Authority has posted statements and photos explainging that it has requested that TSA stop playing the video at Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW).
“WCAA does not operate the checkpoint monitors, which are located in TSA-leased space. The TSA did not seek approval to play the message.”
The airport has placed these signs near the checkpoint entrances explaining why the videos are running.
Last week, the U.S. Travel Assocation ran the numbers and said that the government shutdown will cost the travel economy $1 billion a week.
As we head into the second week of shutdown, the organization has a ticker tape running to tally the ongoing losses. It’s not pretty.
Air traffic controllers, TSA officers and Custom and Border Protection employees are required to show up for work at the nation’s airports, even though they’re not being paid during the government shutdown.
The current administration, via the Department of Homeland Security, has produced a propaganda video to be shown at airport security checkpoints featuring Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem claiming that “Democrats in Congress refuse to fund the federal government, and because of this, many of our operations are impacted and most of our TSA employees are working without pay.”
But airports are pushing back.
So far, we’ve learned that Portland International Airport (PDX), Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), Spokane International Airport (GEG), Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF), Niagara Falls International Airport (IAG), Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) and Westchester County Airport (HPN), north of New York City, won’t be airing the video.
“We believe the Hatch Act clearly prohibits use of public assets for political purposes and messaging,” a PDX spokesperson told local news outlets, adding that, Oregon law states no public employee can promote or oppose any political committee, party, or affiliation. We believe consenting to playing this video on Port assets would violate Oregon law.”
Officials at the Port of Seattle, which operates SEA, said they won’t air the video due to its “political nature.”
We suspect there will be more airports that opt out of airing the video and and will add to the list.
The Department of Homeland Security formally announced on Tuesday that all commercial airline passengers passing through Transportation Security Administration checkpoints at airports are now allowed to keep their shoes on.
TSA first instituted a “shoes off” policy in 2006, almost five years after “Shoe Bomber” Richard Reid tried to set off explosives hidden in his shoes during an American Airlines flight from Paris to Miami.
Travelers with TSA PreCheck status have been able to keep their shoes on at TSA checkpoints since 2013, courtesy of the expedited screening privileges the paid program offers.
But as of today, all passengers, including those with and those without TSA PreCheck status, may keep their shoes when going through screening at airport checkpoints.
DHS believes that its “cutting-edge technological advancements and multi-layered security approach” means the agency can now “implement this change while maintaining the highest security standards.”
Keep in mind, though, that the ‘shoe pass’ isn’t universal.
If you have shoes with metal in them, they’re likely to set off the alarm and you’ll be asked to take them off and send them through the X-ray machine.
If you’re selected for random extra screening (the dreaded “SSSS” on your boarding pass), you’ll also likely be asked to take your shoes off and send them through the machine.
And, as we were today, you also may be chosen at random to step aside at the checkpoint and have your shoes wiped with those little pads to check for explosives.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) released its 2024 tally for the number of firearms found at airport checkpoints.
And while this time around the number of “finds” isn’t a record breaker, it’s still quite shocking.
In 2024, (TSA) found a total of 6,678 firearms at airport security checkpoints, a slight decrease from the 6,737 firearms found in 2023.
More alarming: In 2024, approximately 94% of the firearms passengers brought to the checkpoints were loaded.
TSA screened more than 904 million passengers in 2024 and the total number of firearms found equates to 18.2 firearms found each day and 7.4 firearms per million people.
That’s a decrease from the 7.8 firearms per million people in 2023.
In 2024, firearms were discovered at 277 airports with the most firearms, 440, found at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).
Other airports on the Top 10 list for firearm discoveries include:
Dallas Fort Worth (DFW): 390
George Bush Intercontinental (IAH): 272
Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX): 247
Nashville (BNA): 188
Denver (DEN): 166
Orlando (MCO): 150
Dallas Love Field (DAL): 143
Tampa (TPA): 135
Austin (AUS): 126
What happens when TSA discovers a firearm at an airport checkpoint?
TSA will immediately contact local law enforcement and, depending on local laws, the person who brought the firearms to the airport will either be arrested or cited.
TSA does not confiscate firearms, but in addition to any action taken by local law enforcement, the agency has the authority to levy a maximum civil penalty of $14,950 and revoke TSA PreCheck eligibility revoked for at least five years.
