Duckworth Slams Trump Admin’s Unfair Shutdown Bonus Policy

U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth has issued a scathing critique of President Trump’s administration decision to award $10,000 bonuses exclusively to air traffic controllers and FAA technicians who did not take any leave during the recent government shutdown.

In correspondence with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Duckworth argued that limiting the bonus solely to those maintaining perfect attendance while working without on-time pay is fundamentally unfair. She stated this approach creates unnecessary divisions within a workforce already grappling with chronic understaffing and elevated stress levels.

“The administration should provide the award to ‘every excepted Air Traffic Controller and Technician who worked without on-time pay,’ regardless of their leave status,” Duckworth emphasized in her letter.

She contended that excluding all other workers is “unfair, divisive and disrespectful” to the thousands of dedicated employees who kept the National Airspace System operational during the shutdown. Furthermore, she warned this selective incentive could have dangerous consequences by encouraging controllers to work while sick or injured, thereby threatening aviation safety. Duckworth also pointed out that those with military reserve commitments might face financial disincentives for legitimate absences.

While noting that such bonuses would cost less than 1% of the FAA’s annual budget, she stressed the potential morale impact if implemented unevenly: “This move could improve morale inside the agency’s Air Traffic Organization.”

Duckworth concluded by urging her colleagues to recognize the broader need among these essential workers.