Denver’s airport is asking you to give TSA workers gift cards as the work without pay due to the shutdown

This is why if you work in a public facing career, you always treat people nice, because someday you may need them to give you gift cards so you can afford to eat. That’s the case right now for Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers at Denver International Airport. 

Late last year, TSA workers had to work without pay for 43 days, the longest shutdown in U.S. history. In January, a four-day shutdown again sent TSA workers home without checks, and now another partial shutdown has TSA workers without pay ahead of the busy spring break travel season.

To help the workers who are again working without pay, DIA posted on social media, “Support the dedicated TSA employees at DEN working without pay by donating $10 and $20 grocery store and gas gift cards. Visa gift cards cannot be accepted. Donations drop off locations can be found at Final Approach cell phone lot building and in the Great Hall of the Jeppesen Terminal.”

Addressing concerns about whether this was legal, DIA said, “Federal employees cannot accept donations directly; however, specific gift card donations up to a certain amount are allowable during the shutdown. This is why we are seeking gift cards for gas or groceries only in denominations of $10 or $20. No cash donations or Visa gift cards will be accepted.”