The White House has rejected an offer from billionaire Elon Musk to cover the salaries of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers during the ongoing partial government shutdown, according to multiple sources familiar with the discussions.
Musk proposed stepping in as thousands of TSA employees face missed paychecks, a situation that has increasingly disrupted airport travel nationwide. While the idea was seriously considered by officials in the Trump administration, it ultimately ran into legal and practical concerns.
One key issue is that federal ethics rules prohibit private individuals from directly paying government employees. Although Musk could theoretically donate funds to the federal government through an account known as “Gifts to the U.S. Government,” using those funds to pay specific workers presents complications. Officials also raised concerns about Musk’s existing government contracts, which could create additional legal conflicts.
Another factor: the White House believes the shutdown may end soon, reducing the need for an unconventional workaround.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt placed responsibility for the impasse on Democrats, urging them to restore funding for the Department of Homeland Security.
“It’s the Democrats who have led to this stalemate over the past six weeks,” Leavitt said. “The president and Republicans have been clear — fund DHS.”
Musk first floated the idea publicly in a post on X, writing that he would “like to offer to pay the salaries of TSA personnel” during the funding lapse. President Trump initially reacted positively, telling reporters, “I’d love it. I think it’s great. Let him do that.”
The estimated cost of covering TSA salaries is about $250 million, according to sources.
Despite appreciation for the gesture, the administration ultimately declined the offer. “We greatly appreciate Elon’s generous proposal,” White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said, “but this would pose significant legal challenges given his involvement with federal contracts.”
Meanwhile, TSA workers are nearing their second missed full paycheck since the shutdown began. Many have only received partial compensation so far, intensifying financial strain across the workforce.
According to the agency’s acting head, TSA employees are projected to lose a combined $1 billion in income across this shutdown and a previous one last fall, underscoring the growing toll on federal workers as the standoff continues.
