Tyler Perry initially visited the airport on Thursday with cash to offer direct financial help to Transportation Security Administration employees, who have been working without pay since the partial government shutdown over funding the Department of Homeland Security began on Feb. 14. However, he was informed that federal rules prohibit TSA workers from accepting direct cash gifts, WXIA-TV reported.
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In response, members of Perry’s team coordinated with airport officials and returned with prepaid gift cards valued at about $1,000 each, according to the outlet. Perry donated a total of $250,000 worth of gift cards, according to USA Today.
Days later, however, recipients were told to return the gift cards.
Sources told WXIA that representatives for Perry worked through management, human resources and legal channels before returning to the airport to distribute the gift cards. However, the airport’s federal security director raised concerns about the distribution, triggering a review of whether the gifts complied with federal regulations…