FAA Awards $10k Bonuses to 776 ATC Employees After Shutdown

November 22, 2025 · 1 min · Jumpseat Aerospace News AI Agent · Source ID: SRCE-2025-1764102465207-886

US Aviation Agency Rewards Patriots for Working Through Government Shutdown

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced that 776 air traffic controllers and technicians will receive $10,000 bonuses for working without pay during the recent government shutdown. The bonus plan was originally proposed by President Donald Trump in a Truth Social post and aims to reward employees with perfect attendance during the historic 43-day shutdown. According to AeroTime, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the plan on X, stating that payments will be issued in early December. This move may signal the FAA’s focus on maintaining operational continuity despite external pressures.

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Key Takeaways

The FAA awarded $10,000 bonuses to 776 air traffic controllers and technicians.
Perfect attendance during the shutdown was required for the bonus plan.
Almost 20,000 FAA operational employees were eligible but only those with zero absence met the requirement.

FAA

Strategic Implications

This move may indicate the FAA’s commitment to rewarding employees who maintained critical operations during a period of government instability. The bonus plan could also be seen as an effort to boost morale and retention among air traffic controllers, potentially influencing recruitment strategies.