Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, the rating member on the Senate’s aviation subcommittee, is demanding the Transportation Division broaden its $10,000 bonus to all air visitors controllers and FAA technicians who labored with out pay throughout the federal government shutdown. The division mentioned it could give the bonuses solely to those that didn’t miss a day of labor throughout the 44-day shutdown.
“Excluding 96 % of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Air Site visitors Controller and Technician workforce from this bonus is unfair, divisive and disrespectful to the over 20,000 devoted Federal workers who labored underneath extraordinarily traumatic situations to make sure our Nation Airspace System (NAS) was secure throughout the 2025 shutdown,” Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth wrote in a letter to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, first obtained by CBS Information.
Duckworth advised CBS Information it was “an insult” to the controllers and mentioned that “at a time once we ought to be doing every part we are able to to retain and recruit air visitors controllers, the Trump Administration selecting to punish and alienate 96% of the FAA’s controller and technician workforce is totally counterproductive.”
Final month, the Transportation Division introduced 776 air visitors controllers and technicians would obtain the $10,000 bonuses.
“These patriotic women and men by no means missed a beat and saved the flying public secure all through the shutdown,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy mentioned in a press launch saying the bonuses. “This award is an acknowledgement of their dedication and a heartfelt appreciation for going above and past in service to the nation.”
The Nationwide Air Site visitors Controllers Affiliation, or NATCA, the union representing controllers, expressed concern that solely 311 of its members would obtain a bonus.
“Though we agree that the work carried out by these aviation security professionals throughout the shutdown deserves recognition, reward, and our collective gratitude, we’re involved that 1000’s of air visitors controllers who persistently reported for obligation throughout the shutdown, making certain the secure transport of passengers and cargo throughout the nation, whereas working with out pay and unsure of after they would obtain compensation, had been excluded from this recognition,” the union mentioned in an announcement to CBS Information.
Related bonuses are being given to TSA officers who did not miss a shift throughout the shutdown by the Division of Homeland Safety.
Final week, throughout the busy Thanksgiving journey rush, CBS Information pressed Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford in regards to the controller bonuses, noting that some controllers mentioned they’d simply missed a day or so of labor due to youngster care wants or sickness.
“The administrator and I’ve been very grateful by way of the course of the shutdown and recognizing among the tough circumstances our controllers had been going by way of,” Duffy answered. “However, you understand, we’ve to look and say, the place’s the cutoff? And when you received 100% in your take a look at, you get the sticker — that is a scratch and sniff sticker — from the administration.”
Duffy pressured that each one controllers obtained full pay, whether or not or not they labored throughout the shutdown.
“I feel sooner or later, a variety of controllers would assume, ‘Hey, there might be a reward after I present up, and I’ll do all I can to be there each single day to serve the American folks. And I do know that I am going to receives a commission at one level, but when I’ve an ideal attendance report, there might be a reward on the finish of that rainbow.'”
However Duckworth expressed concern that this might “create a perverse and harmful incentive that threatens to weaken NAS security throughout future shutdowns.”
“Controllers could have a monetary incentive to keep away from utilizing approved go away—even whereas affected by sickness that degrade controller efficiency and threat infecting a complete cadre of workers working a shift,” Duckworth wrote. “Air Site visitors Group jobs are extraordinarily traumatic for good cause: one mistake could also be lethal. These devoted professionals have to be at their finest when on the job, however your coverage encourages Air Site visitors Controllers and Technicians to point out up no matter their well being. That’s extremely harmful. Sick go away exists for a cause.”
The rating Democrats on the Home Transportation Committee, Rep. Rick Larsen of Washington, and on the Home Aviation Subcommittee, Rep. André Carson, have additionally referred to as for all controllers to obtain a bonus. They are saying that not rewarding your entire work power “is improper.”
The Transportation Division has promised the $10,000 bonus funds might be paid by Dec. 9.
“[W]hen FAA is working 3,800 absolutely licensed controllers wanting the company’s staffing goal, and Air Site visitors Controller morale is quickly plummeting to new lows, absolutely the last item the Trump administration ought to be doing is excluding 1000’s of devoted patriots who labored with out pay throughout the newest shutdown from the $10,000 award,” Duckworth mentioned.
She advised Duffy, “I merely need you to behave swiftly in issuing $10,000 awards to your entire devoted Air Site visitors Controller and Technician workforce that patriotically labored with out pay throughout the 2025 authorities shutdown to make sure the protection of the skies.”
