WASHINGTON — Sen. Tammy Duckworth is pressing the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to expand a proposed $10,000 bonus for air traffic controllers and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) technicians, arguing the payment should cover all eligible workers—not only those who maintained perfect attendance during the recent federal government shutdown.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has said the DOT intends to award the full bonus solely to controllers and technicians who did not miss a single shift throughout the shutdown period. He has framed the payment as a reward for those who continued to report to work uninterrupted while other federal operations were reduced or paused.
Duckworth, an Illinois Democrat, is urging Duffy to reconsider, arguing that limiting the incentive to “perfect attendance” overlooks the heightened pressure, uncertainty, and essential duties performed across the broader workforce.
“Air traffic controllers and FAA technicians kept our aviation system running safely during a period of enormous stress,” she said, noting that many absences during the shutdown were due to illness, family needs, or other approved reasons. “These workers should not be penalized for circumstances beyond their control.”
Air traffic controllers manage the flow of aircraft across U.S. airspace, while FAA technicians maintain critical radar, communications, and navigation systems. Both roles are considered essential federal positions, requiring employees to work through shutdowns even as paychecks may be delayed—often putting financial strain on workers and their families.
The proposed attendance-based bonus has drawn questions in Congress and among aviation unions about fairness, safety, and workforce morale. Lawmakers are seeking details on how many employees would be eligible under DOT’s current criteria and how many would be excluded.
Duffy’s office has not signaled any change to the policy, maintaining that the payment is meant to recognize those who reported every day during a period of uncertain funding.
Aviation groups have warned that the shutdown placed additional pressure on staffing levels and system reliability. Some lawmakers worry that restricting the bonus could deepen morale issues in a workforce already dealing with fatigue and staffing shortages.
Union representatives for controllers and technicians are monitoring the proposal and gathering feedback from members but have not issued formal positions on the criteria described in the DOT plan.
DOT has not released a timeline for distributing the bonuses, and internal reviews of attendance records and eligibility are ongoing. Congressional offices expect additional guidance as discussions between lawmakers, DOT leadership, and FAA officials continue.