You are correct in that payment is legal according to contract law.
However, it is possible to make their acceptance of the bonus so uncomfortable that they decide to let it go.
When a company is in danger of going under, it is common for the officers of that company and the top management to work for wages that will pay their bills and no more. It is common for wealthy management to work for $1.00 a year.
I have personally been in that position.
Oh. It can't be actually stopped LEGALLY. So it's okay if the government just PRESSURES or TERRORIZES them. BULLY! THUG! COMMUNIST!
Good for you. You give charity to whomever you want to, but don't ask others to do it, especially to a government enterprise. If (when?) the Federal Government takes over the NY Yankees, are you going to expect Derek Jeter to play for $5000 a game? (Not bad money, right, $5000 for playing a baseball game?)
ML/NJ