The Transportation Security Administration legal team has approved Tyler Perry’s gift card donation to agents in Atlanta, the director’s representatives say.
A spokesperson for the actor told The Cut online publication on Tuesday that “Tyler worked closely with the TSA to make sure the donation was handled properly. … Tyler’s team reconfirmed this morning that TSA’s legal counsel approved the donation.”
Mr. Perry first went to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport last Thursday aiming to give away money, but was told that such gifts violated TSA rules.
He returned Friday and gave away about $250,000 in gift cards, according to USA Today. Each card was worth about $1,000, according to NewsNation.
Aaron Barker, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 554 union that represents TSA workers across Georgia, told People that the initial donation also “went through the legal process through TSA.”
Despite that, there was still some confusion as to whether accepting the gift cards was allowed amid the shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security.
“TSA officers are prohibited from accepting gifts at screening locations. Even during a shutdown, cash or cash equivalents cannot be accepted on behalf of the agency,” a DHS spokesperson told the New York Post.
Prior to the TSA’s legal counsel approving the giving of the gift cards, about 100 were returned to management by Atlanta TSA personnel. Most of the returned cards were already used and emptied of funds, according to Atlanta’s WXIA-TV.
• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.
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