The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will only issue $10,000 bonuses to 776 air traffic controllers out of over 10,000 who worked without pay during a government shutdown. These bonuses are exclusively for controllers who maintained perfect attendance during the shutdown period.
The shutdown, which lasted over a month, put significant financial strain on air traffic controllers. Many were forced to call out of work due to an inability to afford essential expenses such as childcare and gas, while others took on side jobs.
These absences led to widespread flight delays and necessitated a reduction in flights at 40 busy airports. President Trump had initially suggested these bonuses for controllers who remained on the job and also proposed docking the pay of those who missed work.
The FAA's decision to limit bonuses to those with perfect attendance means thousands of controllers who worked without pay will not receive the bonus, despite their continued service.
