Tyler Perry Donates $250K in Gift Cards to TSA Workers Amid Shutdown

Media mogul Tyler Perry has donated $250,000 in gift cards to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers working without pay during the ongoing partial U.S. government shutdown.

The donation was confirmed on March 27, 2026, as federal employees entered their sixth week without receiving paychecks.

Perry’s team distributed Visa gift cards through TSA leadership at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world’s busiest airport. The cards will be shared among individual officers to help cover basic expenses.

A day earlier, Perry had visited the airport intending to hand out cash directly to workers. However, rules set by the Department of Homeland Security prevent federal employees from accepting direct monetary gifts while on duty.

To comply with these regulations, Perry’s team coordinated with TSA management and union representatives to deliver the funds as a collective gift instead.

The gesture comes at a difficult time for TSA staff. Around 60,000 officers are considered “essential,” meaning they must continue working despite not being paid. Reports indicate that nearly 500 officers have resigned since the shutdown began, while daily call-out rates at some airports have reached as high as 50%.

At major hubs like Atlanta, staff shortages have led to long security lines, with wait times reportedly exceeding four hours in some cases.

The shutdown, which began on February 14, 2026, stems from a funding stalemate in Congress affecting parts of the Department of Homeland Security. On the same day as Perry’s donation, the White House issued a memo allowing limited use of existing funds to support TSA workers, though normal payroll has not yet resumed.

Perry has previously stepped in during times of crisis. In 2025, he donated $1.5 million to organizations in Atlanta to help families impacted by delays in SNAP benefits.

His latest contribution has been widely seen as a morale boost for workers facing financial strain while continuing to perform critical airport security duties.