Trump Administration Awards $10,000 Bonuses to 776 FAA Employees Who Worked Through Shutdown

The Trump administration announced on Thursday that 776 air traffic controllers and technicians who worked during the longest government shutdown in history will be awarded $10,000 bonuses for their perfect attendance. The bonuses will be doled out no later than December 9, according to a Federal Aviation Administration announcement. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a statement that these patriotic men and women never missed a beat and kept the flying public safe throughout the shutdown. The National Air Traffic Controller Association (NATCA), a labor union representing over 20,000 air industry workers, expressed concerns that thousands of air traffic controllers who consistently reported for duty during the shutdown were excluded from the bonus awards. Although the union acknowledged the deserving nature of the recognition, it emphasized that the work performed by these aviation safety professionals during the shutdown was not limited to the 311 workers who will receive the bonuses. "We are concerned that thousands of air traffic controllers who consistently reported for duty during the shutdown, ensuring the safe transport of passengers and cargo across the nation, while working without pay and uncertain of when they would receive compensation, were excluded from this recognition," a NATCA spokesperson said. The government shutdown, which lasted from December 22, 2018, to January 25, 2019, was the longest in U.S. history, affecting over 800,000 federal employees. The shutdown resulted in significant disruptions to air travel, with many flights delayed or canceled due to staffing shortages. The air traffic controllers, who are responsible for ensuring the safe takeoff and landing of aircraft, continued to work without pay during the shutdown, demonstrating their dedication to their duties. The exclusion of thousands of air traffic controllers from the bonus awards has raised questions about the fairness and inclusivity of the recognition. "It's a slap in the face to the thousands of air traffic controllers who worked tirelessly during the shutdown, without pay, to ensure the safety of the flying public," said a NATCA representative. The union has called for a review of the eligibility criteria for the bonus awards to ensure that all deserving air traffic controllers are included. The current status of the bonus awards is that they will be distributed to the 776 eligible air traffic controllers by December 9. The FAA has not provided a clear explanation for the exclusion of thousands of air traffic controllers from the awards. The NATCA has vowed to continue advocating for the rights and recognition of its members, who played a critical role in maintaining air safety during the shutdown.