The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on Thursday that only 776 air traffic controllers and technicians who did not miss a single shift during the 43-day government shutdown would receive a $10,000 bonus, while the remaining approximately 20,000 employees would not be eligible.
Due to the prolonged shutdown, thousands of controllers were forced to work without pay, facing severe financial hardship; some struggled to continue working, while others had to miss shifts because they could not afford childcare or transportation costs. Increased absenteeism led to nationwide delays, and the government ordered certain flights to be halted at 40 high-traffic airports.
Emphasis on “Dedication” from the Trump Administration
Then-President Donald Trump stated on social media that bonuses would be given to staff who remained on duty. During the same period, thousands of FAA technicians continued to work without pay to keep the radar and computer systems used by air traffic controllers operational.
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy described the bonuses as “an early visit from Santa Claus,” emphasising that the employees who did not miss a single day during the shutdown showed “commendable dedication.” Duffy said, “These patriotic men and women never missed a beat during the shutdown and ensured the public could fly safely.”
Reaction from Unions: “Thousands Showed the Same Sacrifice”
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) reported that only 311 of its more than 10,000 controller members would receive the bonus. While noting that these employees deserved recognition, the union stated, “We are concerned that thousands of our colleagues who worked without pay throughout the shutdown are excluded from this acknowledgment.”
The Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS) union highlighted that the majority of FAA technicians worked hard to keep the outdated systems used by controllers running, calling the decision to award bonuses to only 423 technicians “insufficient and unfair.”
Questions Raised in Congress
Representative Rick Larsen, a senior member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, questioned why the bonuses were limited to such a small number of personnel. Larsen said, “Each of these hardworking men and women deserves the bonus and the back pay.”
Recently, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem also announced that TSA officers who worked without pay during the shutdown would receive bonuses, though she did not specify how many employees would be paid.
Operations Return to Normal After the Shutdown
The FAA noted that it already faced a critical shortage of controllers before the shutdown, and that some trainees and experienced controllers resigned or retired during the period. Due to staffing shortages, some controllers were reportedly working six days a week in 10-hour shifts.
As absenteeism increased, the FAA instructed airlines to reduce flight numbers; safety experts raised serious concerns over rising runway incursions and delayed controller responses.
Following the end of the shutdown, staff attendance returned to normal and airlines resumed full operational capacity.
