At John Glenn Columbus International Airport, the usual brochures at the Concourse B information desk now share space with something more urgent: a gift-card drop box set up to help Transportation Security Administration employees who are working without pay during the partial federal government shutdown.
The box is collecting modest grocery, gas and restaurant gift cards. Airport officials say TSA supervisors will hand out the donations to families who need them most while screeners keep staffing checkpoints without a paycheck.
The drive is meant as quick, practical relief for workers still showing up to the job. As reported by WSYX, the airport is accepting gift cards valued at up to $20 and is reminding travelers that TSA agents cannot accept cash. “Just a free lunch goes a long way, right?” said Kati Hartwig, a senior digital media specialist at John Glenn.
Nationally, the shutdown has left thousands of TSA officers working without pay and has stretched checkpoint staffing at major hubs. The Houston Chronicle reported long lines and increased callouts as the funding lapse continued. Other airports, including Denver and Cleveland, have opened food pantries or asked travelers to donate grocery or gas gift cards, according to Denver7 and Cleveland19.
Federal Gift Rules Set A $20 Limit
Federal ethics rules include a “de minimis” exception that allows unsolicited gifts worth $20 or less per occasion, with a $50 annual cap from the same source, and they generally prohibit cash or cash-equivalent donations, according to GovInfo. That narrow exception is why airports are capping gift-card values and routing donations through supervisors instead of having TSA officers accept items directly from travelers.
How John Glenn Is Handling Donations And Travel
At John Glenn, airport officials say donated cards can be left at the Concourse B information desk, and TSA supervisors will redistribute them so they reach the families who need them most, the airport told WSYX.
Travelers are also being urged to build in extra time. The Columbus Regional Airport Authority recommends arriving at least 90 minutes before departure for domestic flights, according to the airport’s security guidance at columbusairports.com.
Different Airports, Different Approaches
Across the country, airports are responding in different ways. Cleveland Hopkins is accepting $10 gas and grocery cards, along with household essentials, at its central checkpoint information desk. Denver’s program has stocked a pantry with nonperishables, toiletries and gift cards to help federal employees weather the shutdown.
Officials say donors should check each airport’s guidance before dropping off items. Whether it is a $10 or $20 card at the Concourse B desk or a contribution to a local food bank, airport leaders argue that small gestures add up for staff working through the funding lapse. If you are flying this week, plan for longer security lines and, if you can, thank the frontline workers keeping checkpoints open.
