Over the weekend, Tyler Perry donated $250,000 in Visa gift cards to TSA workers at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Amid the ongoing partial government shutdown, TSA officers have gone without pay since Feb.14. The gift was an attempt to offer agents some financial relief. However, after Hartsfield-Jackson’s federal security director raised concerns, agents have been encouraged to return them.
According to Georgia’s 11 Alive, Perry spoke with TSA workers during an airport visit and, after hearing their stories, he offered them cash donations. However, due to federal regulations, agents are not permitted to accept gifts on duty. Instead, Perry decided to work with airport officials on donation alternatives and decided to hand out gift cards.
