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General Mar 21, 2026 at 12:46 PM

Airports rush to feed unpaid TSA workers as belts tighten

Posted by WilliamInBlack

https://www.reuters.com/business/world-at-work/airports-rush-feed-unpaid-tsa-workers-belts-tighten-2026-03-21/
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barhost45 Mar 21, 2026 +1911
I would think that this would be considered a serious potential security concern. When the security officers are under such personal financial pressure it opens up some serious potential for manipulation by outside parties. You’re struggling to feed your family, makes looking the other way when that guy comes through your line like not such a big deal
1911
goda90 Mar 21, 2026 +422
Glory to Arstotzka!
422
Least-Worth-8634 Mar 22, 2026 +80
Now I have passport! Arstotzka still best country for sure
80
DoomDuckXP Mar 22, 2026 +30
Oh Jorji, you old rascal
30
Surprise_Buttsecks Mar 22, 2026 +8
Cobrastan isn't a real country.
8
nolabmp Mar 21, 2026 +380
That’s the admin’s objective. Make people desperate enough that their morals can be corrupted on the c****.
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sleeplessinreno Mar 21, 2026 +22
Or you know, "I didn't see that contraband...what was that loud sound?"
22
Boring-Research410 Mar 21, 2026 +138
Tsa has done a fantastic job integrating themselves into the daily normal of the public...but id argue its nothing more than another extension of public surveillance and compliance conditioning. Everytime TSA has ever been tested for proficiency, they've failed...MISERABLY. Obviously the workers deserve to be paid, but let's not put TSA on pedestal they havent earned https://viewfromthewing.com/at-10-billion-a-year-tsa-still-fails-90-of-the-time-and-covers-it-up/ 95% fail rate in 2015: https://www.forbes.com/sites/danielreed/2015/06/08/the-tsas-95-failure-rate-be-carefull-what-you-ask-for-when-demanding-that-congress-do-something/ Re-resting after an increased budget and wnchanced training resulting in an approvment of a 90% fail rate : https://abcnews.com/US/tsa-fails-tests-latest-undercover-operation-us-airports/story?id=51022188 Wierd they stopped publishing testing results thereafter.
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srsbsnsman Mar 21, 2026 +93
>I would think that this would be considered a serious potential security concern Fortunately this isn't a problem because the TSA isn't real security.
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790405 Mar 22, 2026 +13
A comedian had a bit about about TSA security theater "Right after you put your shoes, wallet, passport, etc on the belt, go ahead and take your pants off. If you do it smooth and naturally, people in line behind you, will start to take their pants off."
13
Legitimate_Wave_5258 Mar 21, 2026 +3110
How much are we spending/day for this war? *(answer - $1B/day)* How much more does this :administration want for this war? *(answer - $200B)* How many times have the Dems gone to the GOP WITH funding available for TSA? *(answer - at least 5 times - yet the republicans have said, "Nope!")* Republicans everywhere - *( "It's the Dems fault...)* ... and yet people still will not hold this "administration" responsible.
3110
kurttheflirt Mar 21, 2026 +702
I'm going to keep commenting this Everytime I see the number - it is way more than 1 billion a day, closer to 3 billion for the Iran War
702
Legitimate_Wave_5258 Mar 21, 2026 +145
You're likely, correct!! I went off what I last recalled hearing.
145
kurttheflirt Mar 21, 2026 +83
Yeah no biggie everyone seems to be pushing that number I don't know where it came from. And the 3 bil a day doesn't even include stuff that we already were paying for like our troops salaries and the ships and stuff. War is insanely expensive 
83
ariolander Mar 21, 2026 +38
The annual financing costs for the war, just the interest alone, well likely be more than the children's brain cancer research canceled due to budget constraints and we will be paying that interest for the rest of our lives and possibly our children's lives because Citizens United has made it impossible to tax the rich and you can't pay the national debt off with austerity and tax cuts.
38
[deleted] Mar 21, 2026 +74
[deleted]
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ZtheGreat Mar 21, 2026 +53
Decades of propaganda and a concerted attack on our education system
53
BoomerWeasel Mar 21, 2026 +13
Being the only large nation who's national infrastructure wasn't bombed to shit in WWII helps. Gave us a head start.
13
Aazadan Mar 21, 2026 +16
We have people who have been poisoned by the idea of "rugged individualism" where they believe all taxes, even those that save people money are bad. Those people would be ok with dying at 50 without insurance, and insurance costing 100k/year, as long as it meant purchasing insurance was a choice, even if the alternative were $1/year in additional taxes to have all of that benefit.
16
PigletCatapult Mar 21, 2026 +22
That is cost not impact. Globally, with the product shortages and increases to oil costs the actual impact is well above 3 billion a day and will continue to rise as supply chains run lower.
22
Christoph_Kohl Mar 21, 2026 +55
"I love the poorly educated"
55
rooneytoons89 Mar 21, 2026 +25
Now they’re suggesting that Iran pay for the war, it’s Mexico pays for the wall redux.
25
Oceanbreeze871 Mar 21, 2026 +13
The Republican Party has refused all compromise and proposed bills to fund tsa and reopen. They want chaos
13
Imaginary-Ad-7919 Mar 21, 2026 +2551
Wow, airports feeding unpaid TSA workers isn’t generosity, it’s a full government failure on full display.
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TooMad Mar 21, 2026 +922
They're eating food? They didn't pay for? Socialism!
922
manningthehelm Mar 21, 2026 +222
This is exactly where my mind went! Unfortunately I think it’s a different “ism” when you make people report to work, unpaid, in order to be fed.
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MCbrodie Mar 21, 2026 +126
Sounds closer to an "ery" than an "ism".
126
Obelix13 Mar 21, 2026 +10
I think he means feudalism... where serfs were nominally free.
10
ihatejasonbrigham Mar 21, 2026 +71
Slavery-ism?
71
notforpoern Mar 21, 2026 +27
weird way to spell capitalism
27
Birdman330 Mar 21, 2026 +44
You can just say that it’s capitalism
44
Nephroidofdoom Mar 21, 2026 +15
Spending tax dollars to provide for the people that paid for them? Socialism!!! Funneling tax dollars to corporations and billionaires without asking them to pay a cent in return? Capitalism, baby!!
15
SirDale Mar 21, 2026 +109
“At the airport, they’re eating the dogs, the TSA people that came in, they’re eating the cats" “They’re eating the pets of the people that fly there.”
109
_uckt_ Mar 21, 2026 +43
I’d imagine that was the idea, the billionaires want to balkanise the US and split it into fiefdoms. No democracy, no rules, all capitalism.
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Aazadan Mar 21, 2026 +9
They do, but it's also a plan that makes literally zero sense, as a huge chunk of what makes the US a place they want to live is global influence. Influence that no longer exists if we balkanize. Then again, given the soft power Trump has thrown away, there's not much left to preserve at this point which certainly makes that entire idea more tempting.
9
Feeling_Inside_1020 Mar 21, 2026 +6
Some real orphan crushing machine-ish stuff
6
supercyberlurker Mar 21, 2026 +4562
At what point can maga admit the emperor has no clothes... That we aren't winning.. that things have become worse? What would it take?
4562
WilliamInBlack Mar 21, 2026 +3720
At this point, it’s clear there’s nothing Trump could do to lose them. Roughly 30–35% of the country is completely brainwashed, detached from reality, and willfully ignorant.
3720
patentattorney Mar 21, 2026 +1504
He literally tried to overthrow the government
1504
Illisanct Mar 21, 2026 +810
And they stormed the Capitol to help him do it.
810
ThonThaddeo Mar 21, 2026 +346
They called it peaceful
346
Nikiaf Mar 21, 2026 +229
Which is insane considering people literally died.
229
cdxxmike Mar 21, 2026 +162
Including the lady photo'd with a "Don't Tread on me" flag earlier in the day who was, no joke, trampled to death by the crowd.
162
guntycankles Mar 21, 2026 +65
Its like... many of them can't read.
65
an0mn0mn0m Mar 21, 2026 +51
At least she died happy doing something she loved. Being a terrorist.
51
ok-confusion19 Mar 21, 2026 +58
They were just touring the Capital and some Democrat-shenanigans just happened to break out and the Republicans in roped in somehow.
58
TheGreatGenghisJon Mar 21, 2026 +14
"A day of love"
14
SnooPaintings4641 Mar 21, 2026 +13
But no, it was the police that agitated the crowd. That's what the problem was. /s
13
muusandskwirrel Mar 21, 2026 +52
And is a literal paedophile
52
Admiral_Thel Mar 21, 2026 +89
"Yes but at least he's racist !"
89
ClydeBelvidere Mar 21, 2026 +37
You would've thought raping kids and being besties with a prolific sex trafficker would be the hard line, but alas...
37
Kaarl_Mills Mar 21, 2026 +18
They'd offer their own children to him if they got a few bucks out of it
18
BlumbleBee123B Mar 21, 2026 +48
He will try it at least one more time and it’s going to be real.
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BigBoyYuyuh Mar 21, 2026 +120
He succeeded already. He’s immune, he owns SCOTUS, he owns Republicans, he owns the military, and he has ICE. We’re under a dictatorship and you’re a fool if you think we aren’t. Even tops generals won’t tell Congress if they followed illegal orders. They’re on his side.
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patentattorney Mar 21, 2026 +10
Yep. That’s the damage of that ruling. They said the president could try to overturn rulings / willingly break the laws and it doesn’t matter.
10
Slypenslyde Mar 21, 2026 +37
"Tried" is a funny way to put it. He got everything he wanted. After it "failed" the people in charge agreed it would be wrong to prosecute him, and after he won the election he pardoned them all. Part of his charisma is looking invincible and what the people in charge taught the country in the aftermath is no human alive is willing to say "no" to Donald Trump. Like it or not, we let history write them as a successful exercise of patriotism because they're the only side willing to fight and go to jail or *die* for their beliefs. The country was supposed to rise up and demonstrate why the government should fear the people. Nothing says the people who *have good goals* are the ones who will always do that, and so far all I see progressive people saying is they think someone else is going to do it for them. If there is a point where Trump supporters are embarrassed and shamed, we're probably at least 20-30 years away. The times when it's been faster in history were times the US intervened. It does not look like the US is interested in saving itself.
37
Local-Friendship8166 Mar 21, 2026 +260
He raped children. There is nothing that will change the minds of the cult.
260
barto5 Mar 21, 2026 +57
And, to add insult to injury, stole money from a children’s cancer charity
57
Double-O-stoopid Mar 21, 2026 +6
Well, he technically *is* cancer for children and he's got a waistline to maintain.
6
randomtask Mar 21, 2026 +99
Many of his followers called COVID a hoax on their deathbeds. It’s a cult. Nothing — not even death, murder, or r*** — will wake them from their trance.
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barto5 Mar 21, 2026 +35
One of the loudest mouthed anti vax right wing radio nut jobs in Nashville (Phil Valentine) caught Covid - and died. Didn’t seem to change anyone’s mind.
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Double-O-stoopid Mar 21, 2026 +11
Many of his followers shut down when you tell them over 11,000 people died as a result of his hydrochloroquine shortage. There wasn't enough medicine for the people who needed it. They died. It's *entirely* his fault. More than 9/11 by quite a large number... aaaaaaaaand, yeah.
11
McCool303 Mar 21, 2026 +45
The Pavlovian programming is set and in place. We’re now in a reality for the last 30 years where a Republican president could literally be doing something right in front of you and they will simply blame it on the guy who was in charge over a decade ago. This was the original goal of a “conservative news network” as proposed by republicans following Nixon. But Obama, Biden or the Clintons has become a thought terminating argument for their base.
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Im_better_than__u Mar 21, 2026 +36
Hes playing 20d chess. Us mere mortals lack the ability to comprehend his intellect.
36
SecondOfCicero Mar 21, 2026 +20
Even the God-Emperor on his golden throne, fueled by the souls of untold numbers of psykers, has an expiration date. 
20
South_Strawberry7662 Mar 21, 2026 +13
I wonder if he got hit on the head Looney Toons style and it made him a nice person and he implemented universal healthcare, taxed billionaires, eased immigration, generally fixed the shitty evil things he's done and then submitted himself for prosecution for his crimes, pleading guilty all while advocating MAGA change their ways and give up racism, misogyny etc. would that make them hate him?
13
pants6000 Mar 21, 2026 +10
Like a reverse Fetterman?
10
mpjjpm Mar 21, 2026 +14
Drop in on the conservative subs - they have really quieted down since Trump started this war. For the first few days, it was just a wall of bot-posted news stories with zero comments. It was fairly obvious a troll farm went offline and they needed a few days to regroup. And now any post that does have comments will have hundreds, but only a handful visible. It’s just the same dozen or so people posting.
14
airship_of_arbitrary Mar 21, 2026 +22
Incorrect. He's literally got MTG, Tucker Carlson and Nick Fuentes all screaming about how he's a failure and lost the plot at this point. The base is actually fracturing, he's crossed negative approval thresholds much worse than his first term. If he thought he couldn't be ousted, he wouldn't be putting this much effort into the SAVE act and voter suppression. You don't start an unwinnable forever war and expect things to go as planned.
22
actuallyapossom Mar 21, 2026 +24
I'll believe it when I see evidence at the polls. It's completely meaningless at this point in time. In the last decade droves of grifters have criticized the Trump admin, only to right the ship before the election. They just remind the cult that trans people exist and socialism is coming to make every gay. I think Rogan is the biggest example of this. MTG needs to remain relevant to have public support. She started her recent sanity kick right after she qualified for her pension. She isn't a true believer, she is a grifter. Fuentes has always had issues with MAGA - he doesn't think they're fascist enough. This is an easy stance to take for him; even his Islamophobic audience can recognize this conflict was poorly planned. Tucker Carlson has been Russia's mouthpiece for years now. I would be surprised if he wasn't criticizing the war. There is no cabinet position in the future for him; he'll just continue to profit off of his name as a free agent of a political pundit .
24
meatball402 Mar 21, 2026 +118
Him to start talking about universal health care, civil rights for minorities, or higher taxes on the wealthy.
118
mdistrukt Mar 21, 2026 +67
That wouldn't cause his base to abandon him, that would cause the oligarchs to make sure he had an accident (the Russian kind, not the kind he makes in his depends)
67
autumneliteRS Mar 21, 2026 +98
I saw a clip yesterday of a street interview asking three guys about the Iran conflict. The first guy says Trump is doing the right thing but when asked why, cannot give a single reason. The second guy says Trump might be doing the wrong thing. The first guy gets furious and storms out, leaving his friends and letting him he has to walk home now - all for the suggestion in one setence that Trump might be doing the incorrect thing, not even criticising Trump. These people are lost. No reason will change their minds because they aren't being reasonable. They will turn on everything and everyone else but never Trump.
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SmallAl Mar 21, 2026 +15
Can you share that clip please?
15
autumneliteRS Mar 21, 2026 +21
It was [this](https://www.youtube.com/shorts/tkpCUr8G1OU)
21
liquidsyphon Mar 21, 2026 +68
Never. They love how much it upsets Liberal Americans. They wore gold diapers and put tampons on ther ears for this guy. Dems need to be campaigning DESPERATELY to the people who didn’t vote last cycle
68
Sevsquad Mar 21, 2026 +10
Yeah people should go look at the Millenarians, these people repeatedly set a specific date for Armageddon to happen and when these dates repeatedly came and went without the end of the world the movement didn't shrink it grew.
10
PuddlesRex Mar 21, 2026 +46
They're all blaming the Democrats for not funding the TSA. The Democrats are doing the right thing by demanding what are honestly low bar changes to ICE in order to fund the DHS, and the Republicans refuse to give an inch. But the media is conveniently ignoring that fact, and saying "the Democrats are making airport lines longer!"
46
damp_circus Mar 21, 2026 +19
The Democrats need to be louder about this. Every time it comes up, the line needs to be “if ICE would just take off their masks, TSA would be funded tomorrow. But they refuse to and so here we are.”
19
badnuub Mar 21, 2026 +10
The media has kissed the ring. They want democrats to fail.
10
buffysmanycoats Mar 21, 2026 +5
They tried to fund TSA separately and Republicans voted against it.
5
Training_Stuff7498 Mar 21, 2026 +9
Democrats are trying to fund everything in DHS except for ICE through individual bills. Republicans are blocking all of them. https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/news/minority/in-24-hours-senate-republicans-block-five-separate-bills-to-fund-tsa-fema-cisa-coast-guard-and-other-dhs-functions
9
This-isnt-patrick Mar 21, 2026 +24
You underestimate the power of spite, hate, and avoiding admitting they were wrong.
24
jxj24 Mar 21, 2026 +24
This is the same sort of cultish behavior we saw when Bush the Younger's second term imploded. His approval rating was about 34%, which was basically just the true believers (e.g. Tea Partiers) who could never be dissuaded. This is the danger of political ideology as personal identity -- you become locked in, despite circumstances becoming the opposite of what had originally drawn you in, because you cannot admit you were wrong, because you would end up losing your identity. So you dig in deeper. It is a tragedy that destroys friendships, families and lives.
24
_undefined- Mar 21, 2026 +17
When the sheriff is coming to evict them and they family annhilate Same demographic, its the same people. Double down to death
17
groovyinutah Mar 21, 2026 +12
At this point he could probably go on national TV and admit straight up he works for Putin and they wouldn't even blink...
12
Stompedyourhousewith Mar 21, 2026 +15
Remember, they would rather die of COVID than admit they were wrong
15
[deleted] Mar 21, 2026 +2810
[removed]
2810
RoughCoffee6 Mar 21, 2026 +1581
Did you have the heart to tell them that the democrats offered a separate bill just for funding TSA but MAGA rejected it?
1581
radiohead-nerd Mar 21, 2026 +261
https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/news/minority/in-24-hours-senate-republicans-block-five-separate-bills-to-fund-tsa-fema-cisa-coast-guard-and-other-dhs-functions
261
slanderpanther Mar 21, 2026 +161
TL;DR: Republicans are holding separate TSA payments hostage in order to increase funding for ICE.
161
Hopeful-Engineering5 Mar 21, 2026 +53
Not even about trying to get more money TSA and CBP are funded via HR.1 and the actual numbers in appropriations are agreed to. It is about the Democrats pushing what most people would call common sense restrictions and the Republicans not wanting them. This shutdown is about ICE agents wearing masks, going into churches and schools, and claiming they do not need warrents.
53
Xin_shill Mar 21, 2026 +728
The media also doesn’t say this
728
Royal-Bumblebee4817 Mar 21, 2026 +173
Guess who owns the media??
173
csimonson Mar 21, 2026 +153
Yeah, first I have even heard of this.
153
neasroukkez Mar 21, 2026 +70
That’s cuz the dems are soft af for some reason and don’t bother publicizing shit like this or making it news like republicans. It’s the thought of being the bigger person that has torn the party apart and allowed this country to enter its current conditions.
70
EthanielRain Mar 21, 2026 +25
Also like 5 MAGA billionaires own all legacy news outlets
25
TheRadBaron Mar 21, 2026 +10
>That’s cuz the dems are soft af for some reason and don’t bother publicizing shit like this or making it news like republicans. This is just a total misunderstanding of how information is transmitted. The Dems put out a statement and the billionaire-owned media ignores it, the GOP puts out a statement and it's all you'll hear on the airwaves. The Dems are not just looking at a big button labeled "get your message heard" and choosing not to press it. They don't have access to the same buttons the GOP has. The other problem the Dems face is that no matter how right their actions are on an issue, most of social media is perpetually blaming them for every bad thing the GOP does.
10
catspongedogpants Mar 21, 2026 +45
What is there to publicize? You want them spending on ad campaigns like Noem? Cspan is on all day everyday, the dems are out there saying this shit and blasting their socials with it. The truth is that people do not pay attention and are allowed go about their lives with false beliefs.
45
ptb_nuggets Mar 21, 2026 +45
"being the bigger person" is what I've always figured was happening too, but the sheer extent of their silence and general lack of urgency this year has me feeling like there's more to it than that. Starting to think they just don't care that much...
45
Zestyclose-Height-36 Mar 21, 2026 +34
democrats are plain awful at messaging, and republicans bought control of the media ages ago.
34
SueSudio Mar 21, 2026 +57
Here’s details. Good luck finding anything about this widely reported in the media. https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/news/minority/in-24-hours-senate-republicans-block-five-separate-bills-to-fund-tsa-fema-cisa-coast-guard-and-other-dhs-functions
57
Schnicklefritz987 Mar 21, 2026 +81
Unfortunately it was in my workplace and I’m barred from speaking about politics with clients ( can’t control what they say though…) I just finished my work with them and shook my damn head…
81
Pho-Soup Mar 21, 2026 +55
I think the notion that speaking facts and simply pointing to news stories equates to “speaking about politics” is one of the main problems we’re facing. Totally not blaming this on you, but the fact that you aren’t allowed to just say “that’s not true, here’s a news story you should check out” is depressing. Not just at your workplace, but in many facets of society in general. Calling out bullshit shouldn’t be a political stance.
55
Dreadsin Mar 21, 2026 +13
There’s no point in doing that. They want to believe what they want to believe
13
hititnquitit3000 Mar 21, 2026 +322
Its willful ignorance at this point, my sister is mad at Tom Hanks for being on the Epstein list and yet praises dum dum at every turn. F****** idiots that believe theyre right and nothing will ever change their minds
322
Dust601 Mar 21, 2026 +71
I imagine at a certain point after you’ve lost family, friends, and your life has gotten undeniably worse that it’s hard to admit you got conned, and all those things are a consequence of your own actions. It’s much easier to continue blaming some invisible boogeyman for everything wrong in your life then it is to take some personal responsibility.
71
HedonisticFrog Mar 21, 2026 +15
That sunk cost fallacy, it already cost them everything so they might as well double down.
15
fightbackcbd Mar 21, 2026 +20
No, they will live their entire life brith to the grave blaming others for their own situation. Some people are practically unable of looking internally, or viewing the outside world through an y other perspective. and even when they do it’s temporary, just right back to being selfish and self centered. They are basically husks.
20
5meoWarlock Mar 21, 2026 +14
You gotta imagine the higher ups are explaining this in staff meetings, explicitly, that the democrats are doing this.
14
toolatealreadyfapped Mar 21, 2026 +50
>Trump’s doing wonders for my retirement—every time he’s in office it skyrockets!” Even that's not accurate. The first 13 months of Reagan's second term the stock market (DJIA) rose 33%, setting a record high closing of 9 times The first 13 months of Clinton second term the stock market rose 25%, setting a record high closing of 5 times. The first 13 months of Bush's Second term the stock market rose 5%, setting a record high closing of 0 times The first 13 months of Obama's second term, the stock market rose 20%, setting a record high closing of 12 times. The first 13 months of Biden's term, the stock market rose 12%, setting a record high closing of 11 times The first 13 months of Trump's second term, the market rose 10%, setting a record high closing of 10 times. The only metric where GOP leadership is financially beneficial is in corporate profits. The wealth gap increases
50
hilfigertout Mar 21, 2026 +167
>I wish the democrats would get off their high horses and pay me. The Democrats that control none of the three branches of government at the moment? He thinks those Democrats dictate his pay?
167
BrainFog02 Mar 21, 2026 +83
I had one of my coworkers say, ‘What do I have to do? Vote democrat just to get a paycheck?’ These people can be so dense. The party loyalty to a party that has abandoned them is wild.
83
WetCoastDebtCoast Mar 21, 2026 +88
>‘What do I have to do? Vote democrat just to get a paycheck?’ I mean. That would help, yes.
88
brecka Mar 21, 2026 +84
Weird, my retirements in free fall right now
84
whitethunder9 Mar 21, 2026 +31
MAGAs are programmed to see and hear what they want to see and hear, regardless of what’s true
31
ClubHauntedHouseVIP Mar 21, 2026 +79
Crazy because my TSP is down this year. So he’s not getting paid and retirement is down.
79
opeth10657 Mar 21, 2026 +43
My RoR on 401k is negative this year, first time since around covid. They really are the best at the economy, aren't they.
43
ClubHauntedHouseVIP Mar 21, 2026 +10
Yep. Luckily I won’t be retiring for at least 20 more years so I’m just gonna cry for this year and just let it ride
10
asisyphus_ Mar 21, 2026 +11
F*** them
11
trynared Mar 21, 2026 +11
Yeah TSA agents ain't exactly known for their smarts
11
Randomwhitelady2 Mar 21, 2026 +301
Republicans could ensure that TSA gets paid immediately. They chose not to because they want to keep TSA funding tied to ICE funding. Do you want lawless unidentified masked agents killing and kidnapping Americans across the U.S.? Would you like to be kept in a detention center indefinitely with no access to our legal process? And Your family doesn’t know where you are, no one knows where you are? This is what republicans want to be funded. TSA funding must be separated from ICE funding, and the Democrats have offered this option multiple times.
301
[deleted] Mar 21, 2026 +168
[removed]
168
paxrom2 Mar 21, 2026 +250
The dems offered a separate bill to fund only TSA but it was rejected.
250
editthis7 Mar 21, 2026 +92
It is totally the GOP's fault. Democrats are offering to negotiate and they refuse. The problem is half the country claims one side, the other half blames the other. Either party feels any pressure.
92
otter_759 Mar 21, 2026 +46
I just hope the Dems don’t fold so easily in exchange for nothing like the last time around. That was embarrassing.
46
reddit_ending_soon Mar 21, 2026 +16
> I just hope the Dems don’t fold so easily in exchange for nothing like the last time around. Considering the same Dems are in the same positions of power as last time, I have my doubts.
16
CheesecakeSea6471 Mar 21, 2026 +360
Tell the GOP to stop holding TSA hostage every time they want a budget passed with frozen pork.
360
madogvelkor Mar 21, 2026 +223
It's a fight over ICE funding. The Democrats offered to pass a bill funding the TSA alone but the Republicans won't because it's their leverage over Democrats.
223
CheesecakeSea6471 Mar 21, 2026 +135
Actually, I think it's just their leverage over public opinion. And the Democrats get pressured because of the narrative. We need to keep talking about how many times the Republicans are turning down TSAs budget.
135
emb4rassingStuffacct Mar 21, 2026 +78
Why are democrats expected to be perfectly while republicans get to just exist and be actively bad?? And how do we flip this narrative? 
78
CHAINSAWDELUX Mar 21, 2026 +65
Because voters on the left generally have higher and more specific standards for candidates than those on the right. 
65
ArtisenalMoistening Mar 21, 2026 +52
“This person who I agree with on every single thing except one is literally the exact same as this person who I don’t agree with on anything, so I cannot bring myself to vote for them”
52
BoldestKobold Mar 21, 2026 +21
Dumb people on the right love to fall in line and pat themselves on the back for being on the "right" team. Dumb people on the left love to complain things aren't perfect and loudly say they will only support perfect things, and pat themselves on the back for being the "right" side of every issue. Both of those positions are dumb, but one of them means one side always gets more power and likely to achieve their objectives.
21
EndDangerous1308 Mar 21, 2026 +10
It's not even that, it's that the right are blind to any facts and so the right can't just feeding the falsehoods while using TSA agents as a way to get Democrats to fund ICE AND pass the SAVE act which would hinder Democrats from being able to vote while supporting Republicans ability to vote
10
but_are_you_sure Mar 21, 2026 +7
I thought I read ICE was already funded for like 3 years
7
Dandan0005 Mar 21, 2026 +86
Republicans are refusing to pay TSA so that ICE doesn’t have accountability. That’s the message. The overwhelming majority hates ICE
86
shakeyshake1 Mar 21, 2026 +44
I saw a billboard yesterday that said something like “ICE Agents are:” and then it was a chart of relationships people have with other people. I didn’t catch them all while driving, but it was things like aunts, sons, fathers, etc. There were probably 20 or 25 things like that listed. We hate them so much that they put a billboard up to try to humanize them.
44
Tranka2010 Mar 21, 2026 +16
Wanna be humanized? Start by taking off the masks. No billboard needed.
16
shakeyshake1 Mar 21, 2026 +7
The idea that they should have masks is offensive to me. I’m an attorney and I often have to do things that are really upsetting to people. I never cover my face. We all show our faces in court. I’m not even armed and I have no unarmed combat training. I mean if someone is really upset and I think they might follow me to my car, I can get an e***** from court security, but otherwise I’m just living my life, doing my work, and showing my face.  My full name and office address are public record. And through public records, it would be really easy to find out where I live. Or someone could follow me home from my office. I’ve just accepted that there is a non-zero risk that someone could come after me. Most of the time I can get people to understand why I’m doing what I’m doing, and why the law says I have to do it, but even when I can’t and even when I’m afraid, I never hide my face. The idea that armed law enforcement needs to protect their identity and face is absurd to me. If you’re too afraid to show your face while doing your work, then you shouldn’t be doing that job.  I don’t even think it would be effective. You dehumanize yourself with a mask, and I think that puts you in much more danger than if you were showing your face. And if you can’t justify why you are doing what you’re doing, then you shouldn’t be doing it.  ICE isn’t new. They’ve been around for over 20 years and people generally understand immigration law needs to be enforced. If they follow the law and treat people with respect while carrying out their duties, then they really wouldn’t have much to be afraid of.
7
Fine-Will Mar 21, 2026 +15
Sounds like they designed it perfectly for vandalism lmao
15
jxj24 Mar 21, 2026 +20
I would be so tempted to add "Murders" and "Sociopatha" and "Fascists" to the list...
20
Positive-Room7421 Mar 21, 2026 +137
I don't see how this can be resolved. Democrats absolutely CANNOT allow Trump to have his own paramilitary force. If Trump wins, ICE will interfere with or prevent elections in critical states. Trump will become king in all but name. For Trump's part, he has nothing to lose. TSA agents and their families can starve for all he cares. 
137
syynapt1k Mar 21, 2026 +74
Democrats need to hold the line. It sucks for TSA agents, but Republicans are refusing to take up the bill that would fund them independently of DHS. This is on them.
74
swordchucks1 Mar 21, 2026 +31
Remember the last time they had things shut down and caved for promises that never materialized? That is part of why you don't break your word in negotiations... the next time, no one trusts you.
31
scfade Mar 21, 2026 +16
I've travelled from the far future of April 2026 to post a reply to this comment. Chuck Schumer is on TV right now talking about how he agreed to vote for the bill in exchange for having a conversation about having a conversation about public healthcare.
16
MostlyPoorDecisions Mar 21, 2026 +40
Well in other countries a shutdown triggers a re-election that would get the fuckwits replaced for failing to do their jobs 
40
Spythe Mar 21, 2026 +104
Imagine still supporting this man when his grand plan is to work for free... with the promise you MAY get paid later But don't worry guys if you don't call in you may get a 10k check like last time
104
Who_Dafqu_Said_That Mar 21, 2026 +28
Did anyone ever even get that bonus? I know they said they were going to, but this administrations says a whole lot of shit is gonna happen in "two weeks" and never follows through.
28
SeldomSerenity Mar 21, 2026 +15
Don't worry, Trump says he has a concept of a plan to replace Obama care, and it'll be ready in just a couple of weeks.
15
LemonFreshenedBorax- Mar 21, 2026 +173
They're not getting paid *and* they have to eat airline food?
173
Rogue_AI_Construct Mar 21, 2026 +43
ICE is violating our constitutional and civil rights, so this partial government shutdown needs to happen to defund Trump’s paramilitary force. Sucks ICE is getting paid but TSA isn’t, but change doesn’t happen until there’s an inconvenience.
43
DaemonOperative Mar 21, 2026 +23
And then they turn around and say “blame a democrat” with a straight face.
23
Different_Ad7655 Mar 21, 2026 +25
Hey but no problem getting that 200 billion for the Pentagon real quick for a dumb illegal war debt that now the orange Cheeto himself is even waffling about. And people vote for bozo. Give me a sleepy Joe any day instead of trigger finger orange Cheeto and hegseth
25
backbodydrip Mar 21, 2026 +20
All this because the GOP decided to turn ICE into the party's agenda enforcement.
20
dThink_Ahea Mar 21, 2026 +18
"...as belts tighten" When the f*** are they going to start using language that even pretends to hold this administration accountable. A hiring freeze is belt-tightening. A pay freeze is slavery.
18
LMurch13 Mar 21, 2026 +16
Why aren't republicans funding TSA? What's their end game? https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/news/minority/in-24-hours-senate-republicans-block-five-separate-bills-to-fund-tsa-fema-cisa-coast-guard-and-other-dhs-functions
16
foggygazing Mar 21, 2026 +14
maybe if unpaid workers stopped working then the people responsible for paying them would act more responsible. But I'm Australian and we don't work for free and we have a higher standard of living and yes we all need to work but so many times I've seen reports from America of 'government shutdowns' but the wankers who shut it down are still being paid.
14
OPA73 Mar 21, 2026 +28
That is a nice gesture, but I notice nobody has offered to pay their rent, car note, children’s daycare. Forcing them to work for free to keep their job should be illegal. I have done the same during a shutdown and it sucks.
28
Dull_Bird3340 Mar 21, 2026 +14
Dems just offered 5 bills to get them paid, Republicans refused.
14
HedonisticFrog Mar 21, 2026 +9
\>DHS acknowledged the screeners' hardships, with a spokesperson saying that "Democrats must ​reopen DHS now." Such a partisan hack, it's been Republicans abusing debt ceilings to pass terrible bills every time.
9
aznology Mar 21, 2026 +11
As a millennial IM DONE LET IT ROT. Don't give a f*** anymore. Tear it all down
11
mthwkim Mar 21, 2026 +26
God it must suck to work for the government
26
Nearby-Beautiful3422 Mar 21, 2026 +22
Only under Republicans. They do everything possible to make federal employment miserable.
22
FrancoManiac Mar 21, 2026 +13
Nope, only when Republicans are at the helm and weaponize their livelihoods.
13
MostlyPoorDecisions Mar 21, 2026 +6
So half the time
6
teddykaygeebee Mar 21, 2026 +8
Go deeper, media. Instead of people being deemed essential and forced to work without pay, go another level down and talk about what's being demanded in the bill that the politicians are fighting about. Also, maybe, we should dock the pay of those holding things up instead of the average worker stuck in the crossfire.
8
smallest_table Mar 21, 2026 +15
Since 2004, airports have had the option to not use TSA and provide security themselves. They *chose* to use the TSA to save money and are now complaining about losing money because they use TSA. Nothing is stopping them from hiring their own security right now. Make it make sense.
15
limits660 Mar 21, 2026 +7
Besides feeding them, they also have bills to pay, rent, mortgages. They seriously just need to walk off the job. Air travel would just collapse at that point. And they should seriously start looking at new careers. This isn't the first time and probably won't be the last.
7
no1_vern Mar 21, 2026 +7
WHY aren't they screaming at Congress?? Just like Walmart employees, we can feed them, but that DOESN'T fix the problem. FIX THE problem, and poor people won't be on the hook to cover the Governments debts.
7
syynapt1k Mar 21, 2026 +14
47 million Americans voted for chaos - and they got it.
14
adwrx Mar 21, 2026 +6
America is a failed country
6
Vegetable-King7626 Mar 21, 2026 +5
The issue is that all these MAGA'ts dont view politics the way the rest of the world does Eg vote for the candidate whose policies actually benefit them Instead they view it more like picking your favorite sports ball team, no matter how shitty they do you still root for them
5
WonDorkFuk404 Mar 21, 2026 +6
We have money for war and tax cut for billionaires but not this!!
6
scorchedcross Mar 21, 2026 +32
lol blaming democrats, what a piece of trash. The Republicans control the Senate, House of Representatives, SCOTUS and the executive.
32
JohnnyFire Mar 21, 2026 +16
I have a MAGA family member, and this is their line on the whole ordeal: 1. Democrats are holding the TSA hostage. 2. TSA agents who call off aren't respecting the job or their country. 3. We need to stop blaming everyone because we're at war at home and abroad. We as a country are so severely fucked.
16
wandita21 Mar 21, 2026 +14
Are we great yet? Are we winning? Is USA #1?
14
ickieShampoo Mar 21, 2026 +10
The US is a loser country run by the most insipid and inept people possible.
10
ziggyscoob Mar 21, 2026 +6
Why are the airlines not paying TSA always??? It’s got to cheaper then all the late and canceled flights!
6
capacochella Mar 21, 2026 +5
These guys need to walk out enmass. I don’t give a shit about where y’all got to be. Food? What about their other bills. I worked TSA for a short period and it has to be the most miserable, soul sucking jobs out there because you get it from all sides constantly. Those coming to the airport don’t respect/hate you. All the neurotic bosses care about is the fake passengers they send to test the line. It’s ridiculous…completely unacceptable ANYONE should be expected to work with pay.
5
oculeers Mar 21, 2026 +5
But hey, let's give 200 billion more dollars to the Pentagon to kill more Iranians in a war of choice!
5
_uckt_ Mar 21, 2026 +4
Really seems like your country is going to collapse.
4
-waveydavey- Mar 21, 2026 +5
The public, corporations should not fund tsa workers aid. Let airports close, let it fall to,shit so all americans can see what nit-wits trump/maggots/publicans are, full stop. Tsa workers are paid employees, let them get paid! Do not donate that only enables those maggots (politicians, not the workers).
5
PigFarmer1 Mar 21, 2026 +5
Why not feed *and* pay them with that illegal tariff money? Sorry, I forgot those funds are probably already in King Donnie's offshore accounts. What was I thinking???
5
42TheAnswer2TheUnive Mar 21, 2026 +6
GOP idiocy. Blame the idiots.
6
LindeeHilltop Mar 21, 2026 +5
Let the airline CEOs pay the TSA salaries in the interim. They lobbied for deregulation and this.
5
elkishdude Mar 22, 2026 +4
What the f*** is going on with this country. Pretty soon we will be fighting in the country and outside the country at the same time. Absolute morons running it. 
4
t23_1990 Mar 21, 2026 +10
Given the fact that the war is costing a billion dollars a day, gas prices climbing (making it directly known to people the impact of the war), and the Democrat proposals for funding the TSA rejected by GOP, I genuinely want to know who gets convinced by the "Dem fault" propaganda other than die hard MAGAS, especially in the air travel population.
10
ursois Mar 21, 2026 +7
>I genuinely want to know who gets convinced by the "Dem fault" propaganda other than die hard MAGAS You'd be surprised how many people don't pay attention to the news of any sort. Those folks are easy to influence by just sounding authoritative and giving emotional appeals. Truth doesn't matter to them, because they won't be investigating further. In short, our country is being run by idiots, and enabled by bigger idiots. Incidentally, that's also why there's such a push to destroy public education. Keep people stupid and they'll believe your lies no matter how outlandish.
7
Illustrious-Jump-590 Mar 21, 2026 +16
For those who don’t know this government shutdown only affects department of homeland security. Which includes ICE as well as TSA as well as a few other agencies The end result is TSA employees have not been paid in 30 days. Hence why airports need to feed them. This is the second government shutdown of the year. Third of trumps second term. Most people don’t have a problem with TSA employees they do not like ICE hence the shutdown. This does have some knock on effects with less and less TSA employees showing up for work the lines at some airports are reaching 2 hours or more because they don’t have enough people to staff the security checkpoints.
16
GiftsfortheChapter Mar 21, 2026 +27
For the record I ALSO think the TSA is an absolute joke. 90%+ failure rate on penetration testing, absolutely no value to society, a total trampling of the 4th amendment, and if you believe they arent selling data on Americans to the highest bidder with every scan I have oceanfront property in Oklahoma to sell you. Every one of those government employees could be working on a modern day TVA instead of groping their fellow Americans. The fact that we have ICE jackboots out on the streets makes people forget how much the TSA was looked at as an infringement on our rights in the Bush Era. But I remember, and I remember how much centrists and moderates would sneer if you brought it up and tell you that you were being hysterical and unreasonable to think that a government happy to casually strip rights in this mildly inconvenient way might one day escalate to more impactful infringements. Well here we are.
27
Baxter16-5 Mar 21, 2026 +8
It should be congress that does not get paid while the government is shut down. They are the only ones who can fix it.
8
__theoneandonly Mar 21, 2026 +5
The issue is that would mean that rich congressmen basically have the poorer members of their party by the balls. A rich old senator who has millions in stocks could go without pay and never sweat. A freshman representative who's still trying to figure out how to make their salary stretch to cover having to pay for two homes and constant air fare back and forth would fold immediately.
5
Andovars_Ghost Mar 21, 2026 +3
Maybe the Republicans can do what is needed to reopen the government? Like shut down the ICE asshats.
3
Li_liminal_spaces Mar 21, 2026 +4
This is what happens when you give in, the Republicans already know the democrats will eventually cave they just have to wait them out.
4
Confident-Pace4314 Mar 21, 2026 +4
America deserves this we did not care enough to do anything when it mattered and we let this hate breed until we voted for it we were complacent for too long
4
YJeezy Mar 21, 2026 +4
Hate that we've become Dumbfuckistan
4
Sammywanka Mar 21, 2026 +3
Stupid. We are living in the shadow of the world's largest a******. We can afford so much better.
3
aardvarkpaul13 Mar 22, 2026 +4
So we are resorting to Socialism to fund trumps follies.
4
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