❓WHAT HAPPENED: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced $10,000 bonus checks for Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents who worked without pay during the Senate Democrats’ government shutdown.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, TSA agents, and President Donald J. Trump.
📍WHEN & WHERE: Announced at a press conference on Thursday.
💬KEY QUOTE: “We are not only going to continue their paychecks like they should’ve received all along, but also they’re going to receive a bonus check for stepping up, taking on extra shifts, for showing up each and every day, for serving the American people.” – Kristi Noem
🎯IMPACT: TSA agents and air traffic controllers will receive financial recognition for their service during the shutdown, while air travel disruptions may persist temporarily.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced on November 13 that thousands of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees will receive $10,000 bonus checks for their “exemplary service” during the recent record-breaking government shutdown. Standing beside TSA officers who continued working without pay, Noem said the payments would serve both as compensation and recognition for their dedication.
“We are not only going to continue their paychecks like they should’ve received all along, but also they’re going to receive a bonus check for stepping up, taking on extra shifts, for showing up each and every day, for serving the American people,” Noem said during the press conference. She distributed several checks to TSA agents at the event.
President Donald J. Trump made a similar promise earlier in the week, saying he would recommend $10,000 bonuses for air traffic controllers who remained on duty. “For those Air Traffic Controllers who were GREAT PATRIOTS, and didn’t take ANY TIME OFF for the ‘Democrat Shutdown Hoax,’ I will be recommending a BONUS of $10,000 per person for distinguished service to our Country,” Trump stated.
The shutdown, which began on October 1 and ended late Wednesday after 43 days, was the longest in U.S. history. It stemmed from a budget standoff between congressional Democrats and Republicans over government spending priorities. Senate Democrats blocked Republican measures that would have ensured continued pay for members of the military and federal employees during the funding lapse.
During the shutdown, millions of federal workers went without pay, and essential programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps, faced disruptions. The Trump administration announced that SNAP would continue at 50 percent of its usual funding levels, prompting widespread concern among recipients. The standoff concluded when President Trump signed a short-term spending bill to reopen the government, allowing agencies to resume normal operations.
The Federal Aviation Administration reported that staffing shortages during the shutdown forced a reduction of up to 10 percent in air traffic at 40 major airports nationwide. Despite missing paychecks, thousands of TSA agents and air traffic controllers continued to work to keep flights operating safely.
Noem emphasized that the administration aims to support those workers who endured financial hardship during the shutdown. “We will be looking at every single TSA official that helped serve during this government shutdown and do what we can to recognize that and help them financially with a bonus check to get them and their family back on their feet,” she said.
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