Posted on 11/24/2025 10:59:48 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Air traffic controllers and technicians with perfect attendance during the government shutdown will receive $10,000 bonuses, the Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration said this week.
The bonuses will go to 776 controllers and technicians, who will receive notification next week with payments going out by Dec. 9, the FAA and DOT said. There are about 11,000 fully certified air traffic controllers in the U.S., according to their union.
“These patriotic men and women never missed a beat and kept the flying public safe throughout the shutdown,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a release late Thursday.
The DOT and FAA didn’t immediately say whether preplanned vacation time or fatigue calls would disqualify controllers and technicians from the bonus.
An increase in absences of air traffic controllers, who were required to work without their regular paychecks during the more than 40-day shutdown, the longest ever, forced airlines to slow or cancel flights. The shutdown ended Nov. 12 with a bill to fund the government through January.
The shutdown’s disruptions and additional strain on air traffic controllers, many of whom are already required to work six-day weeks, sparked an outcry from the aviation industry, which urged lawmakers to ensure critical workers aren’t left without pay if there’s another shutdown.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnbc.com ...
I have a friend who works for the Defense Intelligence Agency.
He attended work every day, even though he wasn’t being paid
He said as an “incentive,” his boss was buying those COSTCO mini-cheese and cracker packs, and peanut butter crackers, and putting them in the break room
We had a good laugh about that.
reward good behavior. The next time we have a gov shutdown, this story will be told...........................
I’m waiting for a union grievance and class action lawsuit from the other 10,000 employees who were “really sick” when they took off.
everybody gets Jelly of the Month club. No,not individually. Just one for the office.
It is really pitiful if only 776 air traffic controller out of 11,000 had perfect attendance for seven weeks. That is fewer than 7%. I am very happy for these people to get a bonus but for no others even if they had preplanned vacation, etc..
Congress is absolutely despicable especially the Democrats, but those air traffic controllers should have gone to work. The air traffic controllers Union has a fund whereby they can get a $5000 loan at no interest for just such occasions. People who stayed out were making a political statement. I am shocked that it was as many as it was.
Hungry lawyers lined up sharpen tongue.
Someone will sue because they were actually sick, not loafing.
That should drive unions insane, which 8s a good step.
They deserve it.
Retired ATC here.
NCT Area B
This will be causing discord and discontent with a bit of jealousy.
However, they will get over it.
I see this as a positive in the long run because if another shutdown happens then they might look at calling in sick differently.
I worked through several shutdowns as a VA pharmacist. As did our whole inpatient pharmacy. Yes, I did receive back pay when the government opened. But the hell of it was that those that did not show up, none were pharmacy personnel, received back pay also. I did not deserve a bonus nor receive one. Those that did not show up to work simply got a vacation with back pay. That is just wrong!
Not sure that’s a good idea. That’s a REALLY high-stress job, and I can concede that taking a mental health day now and again improves their job performance. The lure of a $10,000 bonus might convince them to ignore their small still voice and go to work when they’re not really up to it.
Well I think $1000 is BS. Just for doing their jobs. If they wanted to do something special for them…..maybe $1000. $10k is a little much.
Should have been $10000. Wish there was an edit button here
RE: I see this as a positive in the long run because if another shutdown happens…
Not IF, WHEN a shutdown happens. I expect the next one early next year.
7% were loyal
93% were NOT
HELL OF A STATEMENT ABOUT AN AMERICAN FEDERAL WORKER
Then there’s the USGS and NASA...
If the folks pushing tin can show up, what the heck is with you lot?!
BETTER HAVE DOCTOR’S PROOF.
Deep State gets what it hires for.
And that’s loyalty to the Deep State.
Not our republic.
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