“I would like to offer to pay the salaries of TSA personnel during this funding impasse that is negatively affecting the lives of so many Americans at airports throughout the country,” the world's richest person wrote on X. (File image)Tesla CEO and former advisor to US President Donald Trump, Elon Musk has offered to pay the Transporation Security Administration officers days after they missed paychecks for the second time in six months. The budget impasse over the funding of TSA’s parent agency, the Department of Homeland Security, has been going on for five weeks and it has led to longer queues at airport security check-ins, where some employees have been pressurised to work overtime following the absence of several others.“I would like to offer to pay the salaries of TSA personnel during this funding impasse that is negatively affecting the lives of so many Americans at airports throughout the country,” the world’s richest person wrote on X.This comes after Trump said he will deploy Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to US airports if congressional Democrats do not immediately agree to fund the DHS. “I will move our brilliant and patriotic ICE Agents to the Airports where they will do Security like no one has ever seen before,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Saturday.Airlines and travel groups were quoted as saying by Reuters absences among the TSA’s roughly 50,000 airport security officers could increase again this weekend. Amid the partial US government shutdown, airports have been running food drives and have been receiving donation for security screeners. As per federal date, TSA employees earn an average of $61,000 annually.A partial government shutdown, ongoing since February 2026, has caused staff shortages at the airport security, leading to delays and wait times expected to remain unpredictable over the weekend.Senate Majority Leader John Thune said on Friday that bipartisan negotiators have narrowed the remaining disputes over DHS funding, but a deal has not been finalised.Democrats in Congress in February had agreed to fund most of the government in exchange for withholding funds from DHS following the killings of two U.S. citizens in Minnesota by immigration authorities.Story continues below this adLast year, Trump said a wealthy donor provided $130 million to help cover possible military pay shortfalls caused by that government shutdown, which lasted 43 days and was the longest in US history.With Reuters inputsThe Express Global Desk at The Indian Express delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis. A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students. All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. The desk prioritises clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence. Core Team The Express Global Desk is led by a team of experienced journalists and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy: Aniruddha Dhar – Senior Assistant Editor with extensive experience in global affairs, international politics, and editorial leadership. Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage. Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd