Key Takeaways
- 776 air traffic controllers and technicians with perfect attendance during the government shutdown will receive $10,000 bonuses
- Nearly 20,000 other workers will be left out of the bonuses
- The bonuses were suggested by President Donald Trump in a social media post
- The National Air Traffic Controllers Association union and the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists union are concerned that not all workers who worked during the shutdown are being recognized
- The FAA was already critically short on air traffic controllers before the shutdown, and the shortage has been exacerbated by the shutdown
Introduction to the Government Shutdown
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on Thursday that 776 air traffic controllers and technicians who had perfect attendance during the government shutdown will receive $10,000 bonuses. This announcement comes after a number of controllers started calling out of work as the shutdown dragged on longer than a month, forcing delays at airports across the country. The government was eventually forced to order airlines to cut some of their flights at 40 busy airports due to the absences. President Donald Trump suggested the bonuses for those who have stayed on the job in a social media post, but he also suggested that controllers who missed work should have their pay docked.
Reaction from the FAA and Unions
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the bonuses acknowledged the dedication of these few workers who never missed a shift during the 43-day shutdown. In a post on social media, he described it as "Santa’s coming to town a little early." The National Air Traffic Controllers Association union said only 311 of its more than 10,000 members will receive the bonuses. The union said these workers with perfect attendance deserve recognition, but so do the others who worked during the shutdown. The Professional Aviation Safety Specialists union also expressed concern that thousands of technicians who worked hard to keep the aging computer and radar systems controllers use operating during the shutdown were excluded from the recognition.
Concerns and Criticisms
Democratic Rep. Rick Larsen questioned why all the controllers and others who worked to keep flights moving during the shutdown won’t get bonuses. He said that for the Trump administration to not give a bonus to every single one of these hardworking women and men is wrong, and that they all deserve a bonus and back pay. The controllers union said they hope to work with Duffy to find a way to recognize all the other air traffic controllers who worked during the shutdown. The issue of bonuses for workers who went above and beyond during the shutdown is not unique to the FAA, as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced last week that any TSA officers who went "above and beyond" while working without pay would get $10,000 bonuses.
The Impact of the Shutdown on the FAA
The FAA was already critically short on air traffic controllers before the shutdown. Duffy had been working to boost controller hiring and streamline the years of training required in the hope of eliminating the shortage over the next several years. However, the shutdown has exacerbated the shortage, with some students and controllers quitting and more experienced controllers retiring during the shutdown. Many controllers already work 10-hour shifts six days a week because the FAA is so short on staffing. As more controllers missed work, the FAA ordered airlines to cut flights to relieve pressure on the system. Since the shutdown ended, controller staffing has improved significantly, and airlines were allowed to resume normal operations this week.
Conclusion and Future Outlook
The announcement of bonuses for air traffic controllers and technicians with perfect attendance during the government shutdown has been met with mixed reactions. While some workers are being recognized for their dedication, others are being left out. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association union and the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists union are concerned that not all workers who worked during the shutdown are being recognized. The FAA and the unions will need to work together to find a way to recognize all the workers who contributed to keeping the flying public safe during the shutdown. The issue of bonuses for workers who went above and beyond during the shutdown is an important one, and it will be interesting to see how it plays out in the coming weeks and months.