Published on: March 12, 2026, 09:20h.
Updated on: March 12, 2026, 09:20h.
- MGM Resorts provided 700 chef-prepared box lunches to unpaid TSA employees in Las Vegas this Wednesday
- The airport’s emergency food pantry faced severe shortages during the ongoing federal shutdown
- Community support is sustaining the security personnel amidst minimal paychecks for officers
As the federal shutdown enters another week, the mounting pressure on Las Vegas’ airport workforce became evident. By early Wednesday, the Food & Essentials Pantry at Harry Reid International Airport — which had just reopened days prior — was almost empty, with shelves holding little more than a few canned items, boxed stuffing, and instant noodles. Just two days earlier, it had been fully stocked.
With around 700 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) staff expected to work that morning, MGM Resorts International took action. Early Wednesday, the company sent two vans filled with 700 chef-prepared lunches — including sandwiches, fruits, vegetables, and desserts — following a similar donation made earlier in the month.
MGM executives assisted in unloading the meals, while TSA officers displayed visible relief.
TSA’s national workforce of 50,000 members is back on duty without pay after the Department of Homeland Security’s funding lapsed on February 14 — marking the second shutdown in recent months. Many officers in Las Vegas, who usually earn about $20 an hour, received paychecks showing amounts as low as $10.
This was not MGM’s only initiative. The company also provided care packages to TSA and Customs and Border Protection officers, joining a growing coalition of community supporters dedicated to helping federal workers. Airport authorities indicate that the pantry — now a vital resource for numerous families, especially those with dual-TSA incomes — will remain operational as long as the funding impasse lasts.
Despite current challenges, Harry Reid International continues to function efficiently. On Sunday, over 92,000 travelers went through TSA checkpoints, with average wait times of just seven minutes. However, officials caution that without ongoing community contributions — including food donations, gas cards, and other essentials — the operational steadiness may falter.
Three Square Food Bank is set to replenish the pantry, although supplies are vanishing rapidly upon arrival. Those interested in offering support can reach out to the airport’s control center at (702) 261-7157.