Transportation Security Administration agents in Atlanta must return $1,000 gift cards they received from Tyler Perry during the partial government shutdown.
Perry attempted to give a “significant” amount of money to TSA workers at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on March 26, sources tell 11Alive.
The TV and movie mogul originally intended to hand out thousands of dollars in cash to TSA workers who hadn’t been paid in weeks.
But a TSA official told Perry that workers are not allowed to accept cash or gifts, 11Alive reported.
Perry also spent time talking to TSA workers and thanking them for their service.
He later sent his associates back to the airport to distribute gift cards valued at $1,000 each after speaking with TSA officials about ways to circumvent the cash restrictions.
TSA agents eagerly accepted the gift cards to help pay for their basic necessities. Some TSA workers face evictions, losing their homes and car repossessions.
But they are now being forced to return the gift cards to Perry.
Sources tell 11Alive that the airport’s federal security director raised concerns about the gift card distribution, because TSA workers can’t accept direct gifts from the public.
Over the weekend, TSA workers at Hartsfield-Jackson were told they must return the gift cards to Perry. Some of the TSA agents have already spent the money.
On Thursday, the same day Perry was seen handing out cash at the Atlanta airport, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing DHS to begin issuing paychecks to TSA agents.
The first paychecks are expected to arrive on Monday, March 30.
The partial government shutdown is causing chaos and massive lines at the nation’s airports.
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), at least 10% of TSA agents called out sick on Saturday, March 28. More than 500 TSA agents have quit their jobs since the partial government shutdown began on Feb. 14.
Democrats had refused to fund Homeland Security while demanding changes to a proposed bill that would require documented proof of U.S. citizenship to vote in elections.
Shortly after 2 a.m. Friday morning, Democrat senators agreed to approve funding for Homeland Security, including paychecks for TSA workers.
But the majority Republican House rejected the Senate deal, extending the government shutdown for at least another week.
As the government shutdown stretches on and TSA workers approach more than a month without pay, Tyler Perry reportedly showed up at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport prepared to help in a major way.
Sources say he intended to hand out a significant amount of money to ease some of the… pic.twitter.com/Jc36Crhnfh
— EBONY (@EBONY) March 27, 2026
