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Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the Trump administration will award $10,000 bonuses to air traffic controllers and technicians who continued reporting for duty during the government shutdown, fulfilling a pledge President Donald Trump made earlier this month.
Duffy, joined by Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Bryan Bedford, will distribute the payments to 776 employees who worked without pay throughout the shutdown. The funding will come from the FAA’s operating budget, officials said.
“These patriotic men and women never missed a beat and kept the flying public safe throughout 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.”
The bonuses will go to employees who maintained perfect attendance during the shutdown. Automated notices will be sent during the week of Nov. 24, and payments are expected to be issued no later than Dec. 9.
Trump first floated the idea on Nov. 10 in a Truth Social post urging controllers to return to work.
“All Air Traffic Controllers must get back to work, NOW!!! Anyone who doesn’t will be substantially ‘docked,’” he wrote. For those who remained on duty, President Trump said he would recommend “a BONUS of $10,000 per person for distinguished service to our Country.” He added that he was “NOT HAPPY” with those who took time off during the stoppage.
Duffy said staffing shortages during the shutdown forced the department to reduce flight capacity by 10 percent at 40 major airports. Some controllers worked 10-hour shifts six days a week to maintain safety standards, he added.
“That pressure on the controllers were giving us numbers that were not troubling, but were concerning. So my job is to be preemptive,” he said.
The announcement follows a similar move by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who last week said Transportation Security Administration employees who provided “exemplary” service would also receive $10,000 bonuses.