Only 776 of the more than 10,000 drivers air traffic controllers who had to work without pay during the recent government shutdown USA will receive the $10,000 bonuses that the president donald trump suggested, since they are the only ones who had perfect attendance, officials announced Thursday.
Several controllers began missing work as the shutdown dragged on for more than a month, facing the financial pressure of working without pay. Some of them got side jobs, but others simply couldn’t afford the childcare or gas they needed to work. Their absences caused delays at airports across the country and led the government to reduce some of its flights at 40 busy airports.
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Trump suggested bonuses for those who stayed on the job, but also suggested that controllers who missed work should have their pay docked. The officials of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have not publicly announced plans to penalize controllers.
The Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffysaid the bonuses recognize the dedication of the controllers who never missed a shift during the 43 days of closure.
“These patriotic men and women never missed a beat and kept the flying public safe throughout the shutdownDuffy noted.
But the Democratic representative Rick Larsen questioned why not all controllers and others who worked to keep flights moving during the shutdown will receive bonuses.
“For the Trump administration to not give a bonus to each of these hard-working men and women is wrong; everyone deserves a bonus and back pay“said Larsen, who is a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Commission of the House of Representatives.
Last week, the Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noemannounced that any TSA officer who was “beyond his duties” while working without pay would receive a $10,000 bonus, but he never specified how many would qualify beyond the handful of checks he handed to officials at a news conference.
The FAA It already had a critical shortage of air traffic controllers before the shutdown. Duffy was working to increase hiring and streamline required years of training in hopes of eliminating shortages in the coming years.
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Duffy has said some students and controllers quit, while more experienced ones retired during the lockdown. Many already work 10-hour shifts six days a week due to staffing shortages.
As more controllers missed work, the FAA ordered airlines to reduce flights to relieve pressure on the system. Duffy repeatedly said FAA safety experts became concerned as absences grew due to reports of pilots concerned about controllers’ responses and a series of runway incursions.
Since the lockdown ended, controller availability has improved significantly and airlines were allowed to resume normal operations this week.
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