As the government shutdown wears on, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers at Martha’s Vineyard Airport are showing up to their shifts without pay, and airport officials say they’re doing what they can to support the affected employees. 

Vineyard TSA agents are some of the millions of federal employees across the country who have had to work without pay this month, and, along with Vineyard Coast Guard members, among the only federal workers stationed on the Island. Airport director Geoff Freeman said airport operations are proceeding as normal because unpaid employees are still showing up to their shifts.

For now, things are proceeding as normal at the airport.

Ray Ewing

For now, things are proceeding as normal at the airport.

Ray Ewing

“We feel very deeply for the members of the TSA family here at the airport,” Mr. Freeman said. “They work hard. It’s unfortunate that they’re caught up in the shutdown, but they are essential workers.”

Mr. Freeman said air traffic control workers are still being paid because they are not technically federal employees, though they are under contract with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). He noted the FAA is slowing down payments to control towers but that their company will pay them “as long as [it] can.”

It’s unclear how long the shutdown will continue. Mr. Freeman said airport administrators have been connecting TSA agents with Island resources to ease the shutdown’s financial burden.

Merrick Carreiro, food equity director at Island Grown Initiative, said her nonprofit and the airport have been collaborating to help TSA access Island Grown’s food pantry resources. She noted that the food pantry’s online ordering program can make it more convenient for people who work full time to benefit from the pantry. Island Grown wanted to make sure TSA workers knew about the program, which is open to all Islanders, she said.

“Times of need can come at any point in someone’s life, so it’s really important for the public to know why we’re here,” Ms. Carreiro said.

Though Mr. Freeman lauded Vineyard TSA employees’ dedication to their work despite not being paid, he noted that other airports around the country are experiencing operational issues because unpaid TSA workers are unincentivized to go to work.

He said airport administrators are monitoring the situation closely. 

“It’s a fluid situation going on,” he said. “We sit in on daily briefing calls with Airport Council International and other executive working groups that give the legislative updates. So we listen every day.”