Quick recap (aka the TL;DR with snacks)
Senator Tammy Duckworth is pushing the Transportation Department to hand a $10,000 bonus to every air traffic controller and FAA technician who worked without pay during the 2025 government shutdown. The department currently plans to reward only a small slice of that workforce — those who didn’t miss a single day — and Duckworth thinks that’s as unfair as getting a tiny slice of your birthday cake.
What the Transportation Department decided
The feds announced a limited bonus program for controllers and technicians who had perfect attendance during the roughly 44-day shutdown. A few hundred people were selected to get the $10,000 payments — the department says full back pay was provided to everyone eventually, but the extra cash is reserved for those who kept showing up every day.
Duckworth’s reaction (not subtle)
Duckworth fired off a letter calling the partial bonus plan disrespectful to tens of thousands of FAA workers who held the skies together while unpaid. She argues excluding the vast majority of controllers and techs is counterproductive, especially when agencies are fighting to keep and recruit people for these stressful jobs.
The union’s gripe
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association pointed out that only a small number of its members are slated to receive the bonus. Their message: yes, recognition is nice, but leaving thousands out who worked during the shutdown while wondering when payday would come feels wrong.
The safety and sick-leave concern
One big worry Duckworth raised is that tying bonuses to flawless attendance creates a perverse incentive: people might come to work sick just to chase the cash. And in air traffic control, showing up under the weather isn’t just miserable — it could be dangerous. She argues sick leave exists for a reason and that encouraging people to skip it could undermine safety.
A few choice quotes and the political backdrop
Transportation officials defended the cutoff as a fair way to draw a line, with one official trying to be lighthearted about rewarding perfect attendance. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle — including House Democrats on relevant committees — have urged the department to extend the bonus to everyone who worked without pay. Meanwhile, Duckworth also noted struggling morale and staffing shortfalls at the FAA as reasons to avoid exclusionary award policies.
Where things stand
The department said the $10,000 payments would be distributed by December 9. Duckworth, along with other lawmakers, is pressing for a fast fix that would expand the payout to the entire controller and technician workforce who stayed on the job during the shutdown.
Bottom line
Payroll was eventually fixed, but the extra cash is being treated like a prize for perfect attendance. Critics argue that prize system leaves out most workers and could unintentionally encourage unsafe behavior. Senator Duckworth wants everyone who kept the skies safe during the shutdown to get the bonus — because nothing says thanks like a paycheck, preferably without strings attached.
