Ankara: The White House has rejected an offer from billionaire Elon Musk to fund the salaries of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers amid a partial government shutdown, according to CBS News.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Trump administration officials evaluated Musk's proposal but ultimately decided against it. The decision was influenced by the expectation that the shutdown would soon end, as well as legal concerns regarding Musk's numerous government contracts. There were apprehensions that any direct or indirect funding of federal wages could lead to complications.

Elon Musk expressed his willingness to support TSA workers financially, acknowledging the adverse impact of the funding crisis on the lives of many Americans at airports. He stated, "I would like to offer to pay the salaries of TSA personnel," highlighting the urgency of the situation.

Currently, TSA employees are working without full pay due to a congressional impasse over a new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bill, which has affected TSA payroll and disrupted airport operations across the nation. The funding lapse, which began on February 14, has also impacted multiple DHS agencies. In response, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have been deployed to US airports to address the ongoing issues.