Leading Senate Democrat calls for $10,000 bonus for all air traffic controllers during shutdown

Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) has urged the Department of Transportation to extend $10,000 bonuses to every air traffic controller and technician who worked during the government shutdown without immediate pay, not just those with perfect attendance.

In her letter to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Duckworth criticized the Federal Aviation Administrations (FAA) plan to reward only employees who were present every single day. She emphasized that many federal workers had valid reasons for taking approved leave, such as illness or family emergencies, and should not face financial penalties for these unavoidable absences.

As the ranking Democrat on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Aviation, Space, and Innovation, Duckworth highlighted that the FAAs proposal would exclude 96% of the workforce. She described this as unfair, divisive, and disrespectful to the more than 20,000 employees who maintained the Nations Airspace System (NAS) during the 2025 shutdown under stressful conditions.

Whether an employee faced a medical emergency, had to attend a funeral, care for a sick child, or manage basic living needs, it is wrong to penalize them financially while they worked without pay, Duckworth wrote. She also pointed out that perfect attendance is not always feasible, especially for FAA employees fulfilling military service obligations.

Duckworth warned that restricting bonuses could create dangerous incentives, encouraging staff to work while ill in future shutdowns, potentially compromising NAS safety. She stressed that air traffic work is high-stakes, and employees must be in peak condition, meaning they should use sick leave when necessary to maintain operational safety.

Last month, the FAA announced that controllers and technicians who reported to work every day during the shutdown would receive $10,000 bonuses by year-end. Reports indicated that 311 controllers and 423 technicians were eligible. During the shutdown, employees worked without pay, with some taking second jobs or early retirement due to low morale. Staffing shortages forced the FAA to reduce flight capacity at 40 major airports.

The selective bonus plan sparked criticism from aviation organizations. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association stated that thousands of controllers who ensured safe operations during the shutdown were excluded. The Professional Aviation Safety Specialists echoed this concern, noting that many employees contributed to uninterrupted operations despite the prolonged shutdown.

Author: Benjamin Carter