Airlines are feeding essential federal workers in an effort to combat food insecurity as some receive their first $0 paycheck despite working during the government shutdown.
United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and JetBlue all confirmed to PEOPLE that they were making individual efforts to support essential federal workers across the country with food as the United States’ latest government shutdown approaches its one-month mark.
United is providing federal workers experiencing delayed pay with food at its seven mainland U.S. hubs, according to CBS News. Those airports are in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. Delta shared that it has “arranged for a limited number of meals for transportation sector workers.” Additionally, JetBlue disclosed that it is working with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Federal Aviation Administration, “to offer meals at our airports as a gesture of support.”
In a statement to PEOPLE, an American Airlines representative said the carrier is offering meals to federal employees “who continue to ensure safe travel for our customers — even as they go unpaid.”
Reuters reported in late October that around 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 TSA officers have been subjected to the work mandate despite not receiving their scheduled pay. Notably, the October 28 paycheck was the first $0 payment many federal workers still on the job during the government shutdown received.
What Else Is There To Know About Feeding Essential Federal Workers And The Government Shutdown?
In addition to airlines intervening to support federal air travel workers going without pay, airports and local nonprofits are also making efforts.
Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International Airport recently hosted a donation drive collecting essential items and gift cards that organizers later distributed to federal workers impacted by the shutdown. Moreover, a union officer representing TSA employees at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport said that a food bank may return to support affected essential workers.
On October 29, a nonprofit called Feeding Westchester, based just outside New York City, partnered with a local Stop & Shop grocery store for a food distribution event at Westchester County Airport.
“We know that during this federal shutdown, that our neighbors that are here working as federal employees. Whether they’re TSA or in the air traffic control area, that’s a concern. Many of them [are] working without pay under extremely difficult circumstances. Yet they continue to show up and do their job with professionalism and pride. And this community has their back,” said Kenneth W. Jenkins, a Westchester County executive, at the event.
