Helena Regional Airport asks for donations after government shutdown cuts TSA pay

As the partial federal government shutdown involving the Department of Homeland Security crosses into week six, the Helena Regional Airport is asking for food and gift card donations to help fuel unpaid Transportation Security Administration staff, it announced Monday.

“We’re proud of their dedication and want to support them during this challenging time,” the post said. “Thank you for helping take care of those who help keep our traveling public safe every day.”

The partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security, which began Feb. 14, includes the temporary loss of funding for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which focuses on safety in airports.

However, no pay doesn’t mean no work. At Helena Regional Airport, its 16 TSA staff have maintained their usual schedule without pay, Airport Director Jeff Wadekamper said.

“Locally, we’ve been very fortunate,” Wadekamper said. “Our people show up, keep doing their jobs as a team.”

Nationally, the shutdown has led many TSA agents to call in sick — or even quit their jobs — as financial strains pile up. The staffing shortages have forced some airports to close checkpoints at times, with wait times swinging dramatically for travelers depending on the airport.

TSA callout rates climbed over the weekend. Nationwide on Sunday, 11.8% of TSA agents missed work — the highest rate of the shutdown so far — with more than 3,450 officers calling out, according to DHS. More than 400 officers have quit during the shutdown, the department said.

Over the past few days, Wadekamper has fielded phone calls asking how Helenans can provide for the staff. Since there are rules, he posted them online.

TSA can accept ready-to-eat meals, nonperishable food items and gift cards valued at $20 or less, he said. No cash can be accepted.

Donations should be dropped off at the airport’s administration office, which is on the second floor of the terminal building at 2850 Mercer Loop. They must also be dropped off during business hours, or 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.

The airport's announcement comes on the same day U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents were deployed to 13 airports in mostly larger cities under orders from President Donald Trump.

The Trump administration announced over the weekend that it would be deploying federal immigration officers at TSA checkpoints unless Democrats agreed to fund DHS. Funding for the department lapsed Feb. 14, as Democrats refused to fund ICE as well as Customs and Border Protection without changes to their operations in the wake of the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis.

Democratic-led efforts to fund only the TSA, and other efforts to fund every sub-agency except for ICE, have been rejected by opposition and the president.

Although airport systems can sometimes see a domino effect when hubs are backed up or delayed, Wadekamper said Helena Regional Airport has gotten through the past weeks relatively unscathed.

The only delays he’s seen so far have been weather-related, and those have been clearing up, he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.