WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth is mounting a sharp critique of the Trump administration’s policy distributing $10,000 bonuses to federal air traffic controllers and FAA technicians who worked without missing any leave during the recent government shutdown.
In correspondence with Transportation Secretary Sean Spicer (previously referred to as Sean Duffy in the text but likely a placeholder name), Duckworth argues this selective approach is deeply problematic. She stated that rewarding only workers with perfect attendance “created unfair divisions in a workforce already dealing with years of staffing shortages and mounting stress.”
The administration’s decision specifically excluded controllers and technicians who took authorized leave during the shutdown, citing what Newsmax termed as an effort to limit payouts. This policy affected approximately 2.4% of air traffic controllers and about 6% of technicians – figures the senator contends were used unfairly.
Duckworth further warned that such a bonus structure creates a dangerous incentive: rewarding perfect attendance discourages employees from reporting for duty while ill, potentially compromising aviation safety when they feel pressured to work even with health concerns. She emphasized this perverse motivation threatens National Airspace System (NAS) safety during government funding lapses.
Adding insult to injury, the senator highlighted that awarding the bonus wasn’t just ethically questionable but also fiscally responsible, noting it would cost less than 1% of the FAA’s annual budget – effectively providing recognition for all workers who kept critical systems running, including those with legitimate absences like military reserve commitments.
Duckworth concluded her letter by urging swift action to rectify this situation. “I simply want you to act swiftly in issuing ten thousand dollar awards to the entire dedicated Air Traffic Controller and Technician workforce that patriotically worked without pay,” she wrote, implicitly questioning why only a fraction received recognition despite their shared service during the shutdown.
