Love Thy Neighbor!

Many TSA workers are unable to pay mortgage payments, rent, car payments, and utilities, and, in some instances, are now unable to purchase sufficient food. They are bearing the financial and emotional injury of this ongoing partial federal government shutdown. Please do not pile on more injury with repossessions, evictions, late fees, and more. Please show compassion and accept their furlough letters.

Faith communities call on all business owners and creditors to please help Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers across the state by honoring their furlough letters. The ongoing partial federal government shutdown is taking a financial toll. The partial shutdown put them in a furlough or non-pay status until Congress passes an appropriation. It has been over a month since thousands received a paycheck. This is a temporary situation, not of their making. Please do not punish them as they continue to work.

The shutdown centers around a funding fight in Washington over the Department of Homeland Security. While much of the federal government has been funded through other appropriations bills, DHS has not received funding as lawmakers remain divided over immigration policy and border enforcement provisions.

As the stalemate continues, thousands of federal employees under DHS are still working without pay. For many TSA workers, the next pay period will bring no paycheck at all. Do not punish TSA workers. Accept their furlough letters and defer payment until workers are paid.

Mark 12:31 instructs us ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

African American Clergy Collective of Tennessee