US airports are collecting donations for TSA employees who work without pay.

Major US airports are calling for donations of food and other essential items to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees who are working without pay. The reason for this is the partial federal government shutdown, according to Business Insider.

In a March 11 X post, Denver International Airport wrote: "DONATIONS NEEDED."

"Support the dedicated TSA employees who work without pay by donating $10 and $20 gift cards to grocery stores and gas stations," the post reads. "Visa gift cards are not accepted."

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A Denver airport spokesperson said that during the partial government shutdown, airport management and the TSA described gift cards for grocery stores and gas stations as "urgent needs" for TSA employees.

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, in a similar statement on X on Wednesday, wrote that essential federal workers, particularly TSA and Customs and Border Protection officers, continue to work without pay. The airport has opened a food distribution site for them.

"If you would like to help, donations of non-perishable food, hygiene products and diapers can be dropped off at the SEA Convention Center between 8:00 a.m. and 16:00 p.m.," the airport said in a statement.

Perry Cooper, a Seattle airport spokesperson, said donation drives for a similar food pantry had been organized during previous government shutdowns. He added that Seattle airport tenants also help by providing meals and discounts to TSA employees during their shifts.

The calls for airports to donate gift cards and other items come amid the partial government shutdown that has been ongoing since February, leaving TSA employees without pay for the second time in recent months.

Last year, the government shutdown lasted 43 days—the longest in the country's recent history. TSA employees went without pay for weeks, leading to chaos in air travel during the Thanksgiving holiday.

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Over the past week, reports have emerged of hours-long lines at airport security screenings across the country. At Houston Hobby Airport and Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans, passengers faced up to three hours of waiting time on March 8-9.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and New Orleans International Airport this week advised passengers to arrive two to three hours before departure to allow for longer security screening times.

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