❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced $10,000 bonuses for 776 air traffic controllers and technicians with perfect attendance during the government shutdown.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Air traffic controllers, FAA technicians, Department of Transportation (USDOT) Secretary Sean Duffy, and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association union.
📍WHEN & WHERE: Bonuses announced Thursday following the 43-day government shutdown, which impacted air travel across the U.S.
💬KEY QUOTE: “These patriotic men and women never missed a beat and kept the flying public safe throughout the shutdown.” – Sean Duffy
🎯IMPACT: The decision has sparked criticism from government unions, citing the exclusion of thousands of workers who also contributed during the shutdown.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that 776 air traffic controllers and technicians with perfect attendance during the 43-day government shutdown will receive $10,000 bonuses. However, that is not sitting well with an estimated 20,000 other workers who are not being considered for the payments.
U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Secretary Sean Duffy, in his announcement, praised the dedication of the relatively few workers who never missed a shift. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he said, “Santa’s coming to town a little early.” He emphasized that these workers “never missed a beat and kept the flying public safe throughout the shutdown.” However, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association union pointed out that only 311 of its more than 10,000 members will receive the bonuses, calling for broader recognition of those who worked under difficult conditions.
The Professional Aviation Safety Specialists union also criticized the decision, stating that thousands of technicians worked to maintain the aging systems that air traffic controllers rely on and deserved acknowledgment. “It took many hands to ensure that not one delay during the historic 43-day shutdown was attributed to equipment or system failures,” the union said in a statement. The FAA has not announced any plans to penalize workers who missed shifts during the shutdown, and the Republican-led stopgap funding measure signed by President Donald J. Trump provides back pay for all federal workers.
The FAA’s staffing shortage, exacerbated by the shutdown, resulted in flight reductions at 40 major U.S. airports as air traffic controller absences increased. Secretary Duffy has been working to boost hiring and streamline training for air traffic controllers, aiming to address the shortage over the next several years. Since the shutdown ended, staffing levels have improved, and airlines have resumed normal operations this week.
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