Tyler Perry devised an alternative solution after encountering obstacles in his attempt to distribute cash to TSA employees affected by the Department of Homeland Security shutdown.
At 56, Perry revisited Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport last Friday, where he generously provided $1,000 gift cards to 250 TSA officers, amounting to a total of $250,000, as reported by People.
Initially, Perry intended to hand out cash directly to the officers, but federal regulations prevent on-duty TSA agents from receiving such gifts.
Adapting his strategy, the renowned media mogul opted for Visa gift cards, ensuring workers could still receive crucial support during the six-week pay hiatus caused by the ongoing shutdown.
“The process was sanctioned through TSA’s legal channels,” Georgia TSA president Aaron Barker informed the publication.
According to sources from 11Alive, the gift envelopes brought noticeable relief, with numerous employees expressing their gratitude for the unanticipated aid amid the growing financial strain.
On Thursday, Perry had shown up intending to personally hand out cash to help ease the burden on TSA officers struggling to cover basic expenses.
While he wasn’t able to follow through, he spent time speaking with agents, taking photos and thanking them for continuing to work through the crisis — a gesture that still boosted morale.
A DHS spokesperson told the Associated Press that TSA officers are not allowed to accept gifts at screening checkpoints.
However, Barker said that donations can be routed through worker organizations and distributed to members.
Perry previously shelled out $1.5 million during a 2025 shutdown to help Atlanta families cut off from SNAP benefits.
Security lines at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport have grown significantly, with wait times often reaching up to five hours and, in some cases, extending into baggage claim areas.
Travelers are being advised to arrive four to five hours before their scheduled departures to avoid missing flights.
The situation in Washington remains unresolved. House Republicans on Friday night advanced a stopgap funding measure for DHS after rejecting a Senate-passed bill that did not include immigration enforcement funding.
The move is expected to extend the six-week partial government shutdown, as the House proposal — which would fund DHS for 60 days — faces slim chances in the Senate.
President Donald Trump also signed an executive order Friday authorizing DHS to pay TSA workers during the shutdown, a step officials say could help ease long security lines at airports.
A DHS spokesperson said in a subsequent statement: “TSA officers should begin seeing paychecks as early as Monday, March 30.”
In the meantime, Perry’s revised effort has provided at least some immediate help for those still waiting on Washington.
