WATCH: TSA agent on working without pay: No ‘fuel to continue coming to work'

TSA agent Jill Dejanovich says Transportation Security Administration agents working without pay will eventually stop when they can no longer afford to show up, indicating they are approaching that breaking point. The comments reflect the financial strain on federal security workers during a lapse in government funding that has left many agencies without appropriated money. TSA agents are classified as essential personnel and must continue working even without paychecks, but Dejanovich's statement underscores the real-world limits of that requirement—workers cannot sustain operations indefinitely without income. The shortage of available agents could degrade security screening at airports if more workers stop reporting for shifts. Her remarks highlight a recurring pressure point in shutdown disputes, where essential workers face mounting financial hardship while awaiting back pay.