Tyler Perry was seen trying to give TSA agents at Hartsfield-Jackson large amounts of cash but they were not allowed to accept it.
According to Alive11, the movie mogul who has a net worth of $1.4 billion, visited the Atlanta airport on Thursday (March 26) to financially assist Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents who are currently working without pay amid the government shutdown.
Even though this generous gesture would help TSA officers immensely, they were not allowed to accept it because of certain restrictions.
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson stated that TSA officers are prohibited from accepting gifts at screening locations, according to a report from the Associated Press. However, Aaron Barker, president of the AFGE, said TSA officer unions don’t have the same restrictions and can accept donations to distribute to their members, AP reports.
Though Perry could not give the officers money, he spent time talking to the workers and thanked them for their service.
The kind gesture follows Perry’s previous philanthropic effort during a government shutdown. In 2025, he donated $1.5 million to Atlanta groups to help families without SNAP benefits due to the shutdown.
Working without pay
The ongoing Department of Homeland Security shutdown, which began on Feb. 14, has stretched to its 39th day on Tuesday. TSA employees say they are at a “breaking point” with staff preparing to miss a third paycheck this week. Over 400 TSA employees have left the agency during the shutdown, while thousands more have started calling out of work, leading to long security screening lines at some airports.
The Trump administration has now deployed Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to airports to nominally help bolster TSA’s ranks. ICE agents are being paid during the shutdown due to funding the agency received in last year’s tax and reconciliation bill.
On Friday (March 27) senators agreed to approve funding for Homeland Security, including TSA workers.
The funding will last until the end of the fiscal year. The legislation will now move to the House where it is expected to pass.