The federal government has been partially shut down for over a month, leaving many workers without pay. Federal Aviation Administration and Transportation Security employees in Springfield are among those not receiving a paycheck - and now, their fellow employees in other parts of the airport are chipping in to help.
Airport spokesman Kent Boyd says he hasn't noticed an impact on the operations at the airport, but there has definitely been an effect at the personal level.
Federal workers screening luggage and operating the control tower haven't been paid in weeks.
Other employees, who are getting paid - like those who work at the airport's gift shops, restaurants, and rental companies- are looking out for the federal workers.
"A lot of them have chipped into a fund which is being used to buy lunch for the federal employees here at the airport," Kent Boyd said.
Boyd says he knows of one TSA agent who has had to take a second job.
Although the airport hasn't seen much of a negative impact yet, Boyd says there is bound to be some sort of effect as the shutdown continues.
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