Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, the rating member on the Senate’s aviation subcommittee, is demanding the Transportation Division increase its $10,000 bonus to all air site visitors controllers and FAA technicians who labored with out pay throughout the federal government shutdown. The division stated it will give the bonuses solely to those that didn’t miss a day of labor in the course of the 44-day shutdown.
“Excluding 96 p.c of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Air Visitors Controller and Technician workforce from this bonus is unfair, divisive and disrespectful to the over 20,000 devoted Federal staff who labored beneath extraordinarily worrying circumstances to make sure our Nation Airspace System (NAS) was protected in the course of the 2025 shutdown,” Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth wrote in a letter to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, first obtained by CBS Information.
Duckworth instructed CBS Information it was “an insult” to the controllers and stated that “at a time once we needs to be doing every thing we will to retain and recruit air site 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 site 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 protected all through the shutdown,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated in a press launch asserting 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 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 in the course of the shutdown deserves recognition, reward, and our collective gratitude, we’re involved that 1000’s of air site visitors controllers who persistently reported for obligation in the course of the shutdown, making certain the protected transport of passengers and cargo throughout the nation, whereas working with out pay and unsure of once they would obtain compensation, had been excluded from this recognition,” the union stated in an announcement to CBS Information.
Related bonuses are being given to TSA officers who did not miss a shift in the course of the shutdown by the Division of Homeland Safety.
Final week, in the course of the busy Thanksgiving journey rush, CBS Information pressed Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford in regards to the controller bonuses, noting that some controllers stated that they had 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 a few of the tough circumstances our controllers had been going by way of,” Duffy answered. “However, , now we have to look and say, the place’s the cutoff? And in the event you received 100% in your take a look at, you get the sticker — that is a scratch and sniff sticker — from the administration.”
Duffy careworn that each one controllers acquired full pay, whether or not or not they labored in the course of the shutdown.
“I believe sooner or later, plenty of controllers would assume, ‘Hey, there could possibly be a reward once I present up, and I’ll do all I can to be there each single day to serve the American individuals. And I do know that I am going to receives a commission at one level, but when I’ve an ideal attendance file, there could possibly 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 can have a monetary incentive to keep away from utilizing licensed depart—even whereas affected by sickness that degrade controller efficiency and danger infecting a complete cadre of staff working a shift,” Duckworth wrote. “Air Visitors Group jobs are extraordinarily worrying for good purpose: one mistake could also be lethal. These devoted professionals should be at their greatest when on the job, however your coverage encourages Air Visitors Controllers and Technicians to point out up no matter their well being. That’s extremely harmful. Sick depart exists for a purpose.”
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 all the work power “is fallacious.”
The Transportation Division has promised the $10,000 bonus funds will probably be paid by Dec. 9.
“[W]hen FAA is working 3,800 absolutely licensed controllers wanting the company’s staffing goal, and Air Visitors Controller morale is quickly plummeting to new lows, absolutely the final thing the Trump administration needs 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 stated.
She instructed Duffy, “I merely need you to behave swiftly in issuing $10,000 awards to all the devoted Air Visitors Controller and Technician workforce that patriotically labored with out pay in the course of the 2025 authorities shutdown to make sure the protection of the skies.”
