Dean Altman
Well, President Donald Trump’s shutdown continues, while he holds the country hostage until he gets his precious wall. But while he tries to manufacture a national emergency and instill a fear of immigrants into everyone, hundreds of thousands of government workers are working without pay—including the people who are crucial to the safety of people flying, like TSA and traffic controllers.
So while Trump is presumably trying to keep the country safe, the shutdown is achieving exactly the opposite.
Here are 24 tweets, mostly from people traveling, that show some of the tangible results of the shutdown and illustrate how this situation is compromising the safety of Americans.
1.
TSA “sickout” at LGA is a travelers’ nightmare! pic.twitter.com/i6SAvuPcGm
— Andrea Mitchell (@mitchellreports) January 6, 2019
2.
Government #shutdown hitting @LGAAirport big time no PreCheck and fewer mag lines staffed with skeletal TSA staff (sickout?) leave extra time to avoid missing flights! pic.twitter.com/YZ2TVe9Edm
— Andrea Mitchell (@mitchellreports) January 6, 2019
3.
#tsa not getting paid… pic.twitter.com/TBTUyOx1KY
— eric wolterman (@ericwolterman) January 7, 2019
4.
With unpaid TSA agents and air traffic controllers working for free, the airports are pretty close to being shutdown already
— Perry the Resister (@PGator93) January 8, 2019
5.
TSA during the shutdown pic.twitter.com/2nXa7eNFVF
— Arizona Jones (@AJTweetss) January 8, 2019
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— Ruin My Week (@RuinedWeek) January 9, 2019
6.
This is the TSA screening line for Terminal 2 at MSP this morning. It extends out to the parking garage. MSP officials are missing in action. Thanks Trump. pic.twitter.com/XJfyKhcEXW
— MyLittleBloggie (@MyLittleBloggie) January 6, 2019
7.
It took someone I know, 1 hour 20 minutes to get thru TSA at MIA this morning. If u think a partial shutdown won't cause chaos & pain not only to some federal workers, but also to regular Americans & the economy, you're wrong. And if you think Trump can relate, you're dead wrong.
— Ana Navarro (@ananavarro) January 7, 2019
8.
One of my colleagues has to start leaving early. Her partner works for TSA and isn't getting pd. They had to cancel childcare and they have no one to watch her 5 yr old after school. Plus, Her partner DOESN'T want this shutdown like @realDonaldTrump keeps saying. #ShutdownStories
— Spring In Vegas (@SpringInVegas) January 7, 2019
9.
I rather have my TSA agents on point, well paid and with high morale than a $21 billion border wall you can dig under with a $12 shovel.
— Ally Maynard (@missmayn) January 9, 2019
10.
Unpaid TSA agents? About to be some excellent drugs on the street. What drought? pic.twitter.com/qZCmsdWajE
— Felonious Munk Is Beautiful (@Felonious_munk) January 8, 2019
11.
Looks like the blue flu has hit Midway in Chicago. I counted only 12 TSA agents on duty. What happens when people don’t get paid. pic.twitter.com/NlhXj1CtXU
— Abby 🌹 (@abbyangriest) January 6, 2019
12.
She burst into tears. TSA officers are among the lowest paid government employees. They’re not paid during the shutdown, but they’re required to go to work.
— Neda Ulaby (@ulabeast) January 3, 2019
13.
Overheard just now as I’m going through security at FLL at 6am:
Passenger to TSA agent: “you’re doing a great job”
TSA: “thank u. Now tell the president that so I can get my paycheck”
Yeah, federal workers are real thrilled they are working w/out pay🤦🏽♀️🤨#governmentShutdown pic.twitter.com/vAndxQRUtE
— Tara Setmayer (@TaraSetmayer) January 5, 2019
14.
Sooooo…. Security at SFO was way, way more crowded at 5am than normal (a time period I sadly know very well.) Things were so backed up, they waved me through without ever checking me in. I’m TSA Pre and Clear, but still. That doesn’t seem….safe. #shutdownstories
— Ocean MacAdams (@omacadams) January 7, 2019
15.
At ATL airport this a.m.
Me to TSA Agent: So are you seriously not being paid (ok dumb ? I know)
TSA: Yep, not being paid
Me: Oh God, I’m seriously so sorry. Thank you for being here.
TSA Agent: Don’t worry girl, I’m calling off tomorrow#shutdown— Sana Bhojwani (@sanabhojwani) January 7, 2019
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— Ruin My Week (@RuinedWeek) January 9, 2019
16.
Husband is TSA. Working without pay is the final straw on this camel’s back. Morale often sucks, but is obviously at an all-time low. I’m disabled, so unable to do much to help. Our only option is retirement $ out…just after this last crash?! Way to ruin our future.
— Susan A (@Susieszoo29) January 6, 2019
17.
I asked TSA agent if I should take out my laptop out of its case and she said “I don’t care, I’m not getting paid”
— Anna G (@annagedstad) January 6, 2019
18.
So the #TSA are not able to work due to #TrumpShutdown and cannot watch for and stop 4,000 potential terrorists at our airports, but the new $5 Billion Wall will help stop 6 potential terrorists? 🙃
— Dianne Sherman (@dsherman2407) January 7, 2019
19.
I flew three flights today. I talked to about 50 air traffic controllers on the radio, they kept me safe. None of them were being paid. The people whom I entrust my life, and more importantly, the lives of my passengers, are working for free. Same with TSA. @WeAreALPA @NATCA
— Coleman T Hamilton (@ColemanTH) January 8, 2019
20.
No, it is not a travelers’ nightmare. It is a TSA workers’ nightmare. They are not getting paid right now because our White House has been hijacked by Putin’s puppet. https://t.co/IS0Di5W2eJ
— Ryan Knight 🇺🇸 (@ProudResister) January 6, 2019
21.
From a friend: Just talked to a TSA Agent. Thanked him for being here during the shutdown. “I’m OK,” he said. “I have a Navy pension. My coworkers are calling in sick simply because they can’t afford the gas to drive to the airport since they haven’t been paid.” #ShutdownStories
— Amy R. Turci (@AmyRTurci) January 5, 2019
22.
Flying out of Pittsburgh
Me: Thanks for working today. When were you last paid?
TSA Agent: 16 days
Me: they didn’t tell you that this is a volunteer job?
TSA Agent: Hell, I wish it were a volunteer job. At least then I could leave and not get in trouble.— Bill Weir (@BillWeirCNN) January 7, 2019
23.
“I have a newborn,” said one TSA worker at JFK Airport. “I can barely afford to miss this pay period. I don’t want to lose my job but I also don’t want to lose my apartment.” https://t.co/EbEdj0YO9m
— Liam Stack (@liamstack) January 9, 2019
24.
I’m traveling today. Remember, the TSA Agents are NOT getting paid. Or in the words of the agent I just spoke to about it:
“F#@K THE ORANGE GUY.”
Her colleagues clapped.
— Nate McMurray (@Nate_McMurray) January 8, 2019
h/t: Bored Panda
