The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently announced that only 776 air traffic controllers and technicians with perfect attendance during the government shutdown will receive $10,000 bonuses. Nearly 20,000 other workers, who played vital roles during the 43-day shutdown, will be left without recognition.
As the shutdown progressed, a number of controllers were forced to miss work, citing the financial pressures of operating without pay, which led many to pick up second jobs. Their absences resulted in significant delays at airports nationwide, prompting the government to order airlines to cut some flights at 40 busy airports.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy acknowledged the dedication of the few who never missed a shift, stating in a social media post that these workers never missed a beat and kept the flying public safe throughout the shutdown. However, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association union expressed concerns over the exclusion of thousands of workers who ensured flight safety.
Union representatives pointed out that only 311 of their more than 10,000 members will receive bonuses, arguing that recognition should extend to all who worked under challenging circumstances.
The Professional Aviation Safety Specialists union also emphasized that the thousands of technicians who maintained critical systems during the shutdown should be acknowledged, not just the 423 receiving bonuses.
Critics of the FAA's decision, including Democratic Rep. Rick Larsen, deemed it unfair that not every employee who worked diligently while not getting paid would receive bonuses. They called for a fair acknowledgement of all contributions made during this intense period.
As the FAA continues to face staffing shortages, Duffy has been advocating for increased hiring and expedited training processes. Following the shutdown, there has been an improvement in controller staffing, and airlines have resumed normal operations.
