CNN's Audie Cornish guffawed at a panelist's observation about the White House turning down an offer by Elon Musk's offer to help end the funding impasse for the Department of Homeland Security.
The DHS has been partially shut down for five weeks, resulting in hours-long waits at airports as unpaid Transportation Security Administration workers walk off the job or call in sick. But Republicans have been unwilling to make changes sought by Democrats to reform Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations following a pair of fatal shootings earlier this year in Minnesota.
"A senior House Republicanmember on what it will take tobreak the DHS funding impasse," reported Fox News correspondent Chad Pergram, which Cornish read on air. "Quote, 'a couple more shootingsor the lines to get even longer.'"
"That is ridiculous," reacted CNN's Betsy Klein, a senior White House reporter. "Butthat's the reality right now, and it doesn't seem like thereis any movement on either sidebased on everything we arehearing on Capitol Hill and whatwe are hearing at the White House, which is just continuingto blame Democrats. But there isa very serious human toll here,and you're seeing that as DHSofficials are going to haveanother week of $0 paycheck, andwe're starting to hear thosestories of TSA gainfullyemployed, fully employed peopleseeking assistance from foodpantries."
"Yeah, and then you're hearingsome pretty random offers here," Cornish added. "Elon Musk on social media on hisX, [posted] 'I would like to offer to paythe salaries of TSA personnelduring this funding impasse,' andthen a White House spokespersonhad to say, 'We greatlyappreciate it, this would posegreat legal challenge.'"
"Which might be the first timethat the White House hasactually said no to somethingfor legal reasons, from Elon Musk," Klein interjected.
Cornish laughed aloud at her remark.
"Well played," Cornish said, recovering quickly.
President Donald Trump told reporters that he would "love it" and invited Musk to pay TSA workers, which would cost about $250 million, but administration officials noted that outside individuals are legally barred from directly paying government employees, although they can make donations through an account called "Gifts to the U.S. Government."
"We greatly appreciate Elon's generous offer," said White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson. "This would pose great legal challenges due to his involvement with federal government contracts. The fastest way to ensure TSA employees — and all DHS employees — get paid is for Democrats to fund the Department of Homeland Security."