Hundreds of air traffic controllers and technicians who had perfect attendance during the government shutdown will be awarded $10,000 for their “patriotic work to ensure the safety of the skies,” the Federal Aviation Administration announced Thursday.
The bonuses will be sent to those “who maintained perfect attendance” during the 43-day shutdown, and recipients will be notified next week, according to reports. Bonuses are expected to arrive by Dec. 9.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy took to social media to announce the bonus for the 776 air traffic controllers and technicians: “Santa’s coming to town a little early.”
“These patriotic men and women never missed a beat and kept the flying public safe throughout the shutdown,” Mr. Duffy said in a statement.
Unions for the workers say more of them should receive the bonuses.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association said 311 employees represented by the union will receive the award, but said thousands of air safety personnel who worked during the shutdown are not included in the federal bonus.
“We are concerned that thousands of air traffic controllers who consistently reported for duty during the shutdown, ensuring the safe transport of passengers and cargo across the nation, while working without pay and uncertain of when they would receive compensation, were excluded from this recognition,” the union said in a statement. “More than 311 of these dedicated professionals were instrumental in keeping America moving.”
The Professional Aviation Safety Specialists union said that while 423 of its members are receiving bonuses, thousands of others “performed a wide range of critical services needed to maintain the aviation ecosystem.”
The union said it appreciates that the important work of aviation employees is being recognized, but more than 6,000 of its members worked without pay during the shutdown.
There are more than 14,000 air traffic controllers in the U.S., according to the FAA.
This bonus announcement comes after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem handed out $10,000 bonus checks on Nov. 13 to some Transportation Security Administration officers “for stepping up, taking on extra shifts, for showing up each and every day.”
She said that the department will be looking at all TSA officials who helped serve during the shutdown and doing “what we can to recognize that and help them financially with a bonus check to get them and their family back on their feet.”
President Trump had proposed awarding bonuses to air traffic personnel who remained in their post during the shutdown, but also suggested that controllers who missed work should have their pay docked.
The shutdown meant that short-staffed controllers worked continuous overtime shifts without pay, while some had to take up second jobs to make ends meet.
The record shutdown resulted in airport chaos, with mass flight cancellations, delays and a temporary pause in flights at 40 of the busiest airports as short-staffed controllers worked without pay.
Since the shutdown came to a conclusion, airport staffing has improved significantly and airlines have been able to resume normal operations.
• Mary McCue Bell can be reached at mbell@washingtontimes.com.
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