Nov. 21 (UPI) — Bonuses of $10,000 will be awarded to 776 air traffic controllers and technicians with perfect attendance during the 43-day government shutdown.
The extra money was announced Thursday by Department of Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Bryan Bedford. The FAA is part of the Transportation Department.
“These patriotic men and women never missed a beat and kept the flying public safe throughout the shutdown,” Duffy said. “Democrats may not care about their financial well-being, but President Trump does. This award is an acknowledgement of their dedication and a heartfelt appreciation for going above and beyond in service to the nation.”
During the shutdown, essential workers, including those in air traffic control, worked without paychecks.
It ended on Nov. 12 with legislation to fund the government through January.
“I am profoundly proud and grateful for the air traffic personnel who worked during extraordinary operational challenges to keep the NAS running safely during the longest government shutdown,” Bedford said. “Their dedication represents the highest levels of public service.”
Absences caused delays and cancellations of flights, including mandated flight reductions at the largest 40 airports in the United States, which rose to 6%, though there were plans for 10% if the shutdown continued.
Some personnel were required to work six-day workweeks of 10 hours a day. They are on duty for a variety of shifts, including holidays.
Even before the shutdown, there were staffing shortages of air traffic controllers and other essential staff.
Last week, President Donald Trump mentioned the bonuses idea on Nov. 10 in a Truth Social post.
He also threatened to dock the pay of those who called out during the shutdown, telling them he was “NOT HAPPY” with them and “get back to work.”
Selected recipients will receive electronic notification next week, and their payments will be received no later than Dec. 9.
The two agencies didn’t say whether those taking planned vacations or fatigue calls will receive the bonuses, NBC News reported.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association, which has been critical of staffing issues, said it was informed of the decision on cash bonuses hours before the announcement.
Of these receiving bosses, 311 are represented by NATCA.
“We look forward to working with the Administration to provide the appropriate recognition to those not covered by the Secretary’s announcement,” the union, which represents more than 20,000 air industry workers, said in a statement to CNBC.
The Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, which represents 11,000 FAA and Defense Department workers, including technicians, said it is “reviewing the information that has been provided by the FAA and is evaluating how best to ensure that all employees who worked during the shutdown are recognized.”
That union said 423 will get the bonus. In all, it said 6,000 worked without pay.
“It took many hands to ensure that not one delay during the historic 43-day shutdown was attributed to equipment or system failures,” PASS said in a statement.
There are about 14,000 air traffic controllers in the United States. The median salary for the position, including ones not with the FAA, was $144,580, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Salaries start at $55,000 to $68,000, depending on location.
They work in control towers, approach control facilities or en-route centers.
Also, there are about 3,400 trainees, including 1,000 initially at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City.
The mandatory retirement age is 56.
Also last week, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Transportation Security Administration officers who screen passengers at airports would also receive $10,000 bonuses for perfect attendance.
“Despite tremendous personal, operational and financial challenges, these dedicated officers showed up to work every day for more than a month, without pay, ensuring the American people could travel safely,” DHS said in a press release.