$10K Bonus Promise Vanishes for Air-Safety Workers After Shutdown
Thousands of U.S. air-safety workers who kept the nation’s aviation system running during the recent government shutdown say they feel betrayed after learning they will not receive the $10,000 bonuses they were promised.
Air traffic controllers, aviation technicians, and Transportation Security Administration officers continued working through the shutdown under intense pressure, often logging mandatory overtime to keep airports and airspace operating safely. Yet most now discover they do not qualify for the bonus publicly touted by the administration.
According to reporting by The Wall Street Journal, only 311 of nearly 13,000 unionized air traffic controllers and just 423 of roughly 6,000 unionized aviation technicians meet the strict eligibility criteria. That means the vast majority of frontline aviation workers who reported for duty during the shutdown will receive nothing.
In November, Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that he would recommend a $10,000 bonus for air traffic controllers who worked straight through the shutdown without taking time off. “I won’t be able to send your money fast enough,” he wrote, praising workers for keeping the system safe.
What many workers say they were not told is that eligibility required perfect attendance, including all scheduled overtime. Even taking a sick day, approved leave, or missing as little as an hour of work reportedly disqualified employees from receiving the bonus.
“They are disappointed, as there were thousands of air traffic controllers that kept the system safe and running during the shutdown,” the National Air Traffic Controllers Association told the Journal. Controllers say the standard was unrealistic given chronic understaffing and exhaustion across the system.
The backlash has been especially strong because the shutdown period coincided with already punishing schedules. According to the Journal, many controllers were required to work six-day weeks with 10-hour shifts, a workload that unions say has become routine due to persistent staffing shortages.
Both the National Air Traffic Controllers Association and the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents TSA officers, say the bonus criteria were not clearly communicated when first announced. Union leaders say they sought clarification early on but were not warned that minor absences would eliminate eligibility.
Adding to the anger, Sean Duffy appeared to downplay the issue at a recent press event, comparing the bonus to a reward for a perfect test score. The remarks have fueled perceptions that frontline aviation workers are being dismissed despite their critical role in national safety.
For many employees, the controversy underscores deeper concerns about trust, morale, and retention in aviation safety jobs. With discussions underway about limiting collective bargaining rights for TSA officers, workers fear that the vanished bonuses may signal a broader erosion of support for those tasked with keeping U.S. air travel safe—even in times of crisis.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, finance.yahoo.com