As the federal government shutdown enters its third week, the agency overseeing the Orlando International Airport has organized a food and gift card donation drive for the federal customs agents, air traffic controllers, and Transportation Security Administration officers affected.
Most of the federal government employees who have not already been furloughed due to the shutdown as of earlier this month are forced to continue showing up to work without a guarantee of pay. A final partial paycheck went out to affected employees Oct. 10, covering work through Sept. 30.
Federal workers who are deemed essential for government operations, including TSA officers at MCO, are approaching their first full pay period without a paycheck, one union leader told Orlando Weekly, as long as the government shutdown continues.
“The last pay received by officers was what many called a “half-check,” and depending on deductions, some received little or no pay at all,” said Candise Isla, executive vice president of the union representing TSA workers, the American Federation of Government Employees Local556. “Yet, despite that, TSA officers continue to report to duty, upholding their sworn oath to protect the traveling public,” she said.
To support affected employees — and their families — the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority is accepting non-perishable food items and $10 gift cards for stores like Publix, Target, and Walmart for workers through 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24.
Isla, whose union represents hundreds of TSA officers across 11 Florida airports, said officers are already facing “difficult choices” about paying bills, buying groceries, or putting gas in their cars to get to work. Unfortunately, she added, TSA policy forbids the officers from accepting gifts directly from passengers themselves.
“Morale is strained, but our members continue to serve out of a deep sense of duty to the mission and to the flying public,” she said.
The federal government shutdown officially began Oct. 1 due to the failure of Republicans and Democrats in Congress to resolve disagreements concerning the federal budget. The primary issue at stake is funding for healthcare and the upcoming expiration of enhanced tax credits that, since 2021, have helped make health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace more affordable for millions of Americans. Those tax credits are set to expire at the end of the year, unless Congress extends them.
Democrats are pushing in favor of their extension, while Republicans haven’t committed to doing so. Floridians affected could include approximately 4.7 million small business owners, independent contractors, and others who don’t receive health insurance through their employer.
“In my Congressional district alone, 189,000 [people] will see their health care premiums go up anywhere from 50 to 300 percent,” Orlando-area U.S. Congressman Maxwell Frost told a delegation of state lawmakers Tuesday morning.
“A little bit more than double, is what people are receiving in the mail right now — not in a year right now — telling them that their health care is going to go up come January,” Frost, a Democrat, continued. “This impacts everybody: Democrats, Republicans, independents. And my ask is that folks here encourage members of Congress to encourage our leadership to send us back to work so we can reopen the government.”
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“At the end of this year, if Congress doesn’t do its job, we are going to see 25 million Americans have their healthcare costs go up anywhere from 50 to 300 percent,” the Democratic congressman said
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson earlier this month sent U.S. House representatives like Frost home. He argued the ball on which the shutdown’s longevity depends on — legislation approved by his conference — was in Senate Democrats’ court, not theirs.
“We’re on a 48-hour notice to return everybody to do work as soon as they’ll turn the lights on or do something meaningful like that,” Johnson told reporters Monday.
Most of the 2.1 million employees who work for the federal government work outside of Washington D.C., spread out across the country. Tens of thousands of workers — employed by the Departments of Veteran Affairs, Transportation, and Homeland Security, for instance — are based in Central Florida alone.
Under federal law, federal employees who are furloughed or required to work without pay during a government shutdown are guaranteed back pay once the government reopens. However, the White House and Trump administration have cast doubt on that interpretation.
“Over the past nine months, the Trump administration has been determined on traumatizing the federal workers who provide vital services to the American people. The threat to not pay federal employees is cruel, anti-worker, and illegal, and it wouldn’t be tolerated in any other workplace,” AFGE national president Everett Kelley wrote in a letter addressed to federal Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought earlier this month.
Isla, with the TSA officers’ union, said passenger flow at MCO (one of the nation’s busiest air hubs, due to its proximity to major tourist destinations) is expected to increase in the coming weeks as the holiday season is fast approaching. This could emotionally and financially strain the TSA workforce even more, without a paycheck to at least make the trouble worthwhile if the shutdown persists.
“As someone who’s been through four government shutdowns, I can say the stress and hardship are cumulative,” Isla said. “Each one leaves a lasting impact on the workforce and their families.”
She’s been grateful, however, to see the community show up to support the federal workforce, including members of her union. She said TGI Friday’s has offered a free meal to federal workers with a valid I.D. and IKEA has offered a free breakfast with valid I.D. “This community support has been a bright spot in a very difficult time, and we’re deeply grateful for it.”
Items to donate at MCO today
Accepted items for MCO’s donation drive include items that are non-perishable, in their original packaging, and are not expired.
Individuals can drop off those donations at MCO’s Terminal C Departures curb from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. or the Orlando Executive Airport.
Accepted items include:
- Canned meals
- Dry milk, evaporated milk, soy milk
- Oatmeal and cereal
- Canned meats, fish or poultry
- Canned or dry beans
- Canned vegetables
- Canned or dry fruit
- Canned soup
- Pasta and macaroni
- Spaghetti sauce
- Peanut butter
- Rice or other grains
- Nutritional drinks
- Toiletries (e.g. shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, soap, tampons, etc)
- Baby supplies (food, diapers, wipes, etc.)
- Cleaning supplies (e.g. laundry detergent, dish soap, paper towels, etc.)
- Pet Supplies (wet/dry food, treats, litter)
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McKenna Schueler
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