TSA workers working without pay; Bay Area food bank offers donations for Oakland Airport employees

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- Since last Friday, March 13, TSA employees are working without pay as the partial government shutdown continues. The impasse centers on funding for the Department of Homeland Security and is impacting agencies like the TSA.

Across the country and in the Bay Area, food pantries are lending a hand.

People coming and going from Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport see what TSA agents are doing.

"Certainly, when I flew out this morning, when I arrived, there were TSA workers doing what they were supposed to do. It's a shame they're not being compensated," said Raph Shelton from Mission Viejo.

"It's not right that they are going to go unpaid starting today," said Elizabeth Trich of San Jose. "They have an important role at the airport."

The partial government shutdown began February 14. And workers are missing their first full paycheck.

Joseph Cerletti is a TSA worker and union leader with AFGE Local 1260.

"A few weeks ago, we received a few days' pay because of the shutdown and the day it landed on. Today, we received nothing," said Joseph Cerletti, a TSA employee and Assistant Chief of AFGE Local 1260. "A lot of officers are trying to figure out what they're going to do. It's no secret many TSA officers work paycheck to paycheck."

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Much like it did during the previous government shutdown, Alameda County Community Food Bank is collecting and delivering donations to Oakland Airport for TSA workers.

For the past three weeks, the Alameda County Community Food Bank has been providing food donations for 200 TSA workers here and their families.

In a written statement ACCFB stated:

"Alameda County Community Food Bank has partnered with the Transportation Security Administration at Oakland Airport to support workers who aren't receiving pay, going back to the government shutdown of 2018-19. During that shutdown, the shutdown in fall of 2025, and the current partial shutdown, we have made ongoing, regular deliveries of grocery items-including eggs, fresh produce, and pantry staples-directly to Oakland Airport, which TSA distributes directly to their employees."

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A spokesperson for Oakland Airport released this statement saying:

"We appreciate the Alameda County Community Food Bank for their generous support of OAK's transportation security officers during this difficult time. In addition to the donations from ACCFB, the Port of Oakland and OAK have provided meals in partnership with airport restaurant vendors, and the effort is funded by the Port. We plan to continue this effort as the shutdown persists."

"I can't think of a single officer who has not taken advantage of this opportunity that the food bank has provided us," said Cerletti.

Cerletti says the donations only go so far for TSA workers---whether they live alone or they have a family. But employees are grateful.

"Every little bit helps," said Cerletti.