White House turns down Elon Musk's offer to pay TSA workers during DHS shutdown
CBS News • • nation
Key Points:
- The White House has declined billionaire Elon Musk's offer to pay TSA workers during the ongoing partial government shutdown, citing potential legal challenges due to Musk's government contracts and the expectation that the shutdown will end soon.
- White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt blamed Democrats for the funding stalemate and called for restoring Department of Homeland Security funding to resolve the shutdown.
- Musk publicly offered to cover TSA salaries, with President Trump expressing support, but legal restrictions prevent private individuals from directly paying government employees.
- TSA workers are facing significant financial hardship, having missed their second full paycheck during the shutdown, with agency employees projected to lose a billion dollars in income over this and the previous shutdown.
- Administration officials considered whether Musk could contribute funds indirectly through the government's general fund, but legal and ethical barriers remain significant obstacles.
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