Air Traffic Controllers Furious Over $10K “Patriot” Bonus For Perfect Attendance

While I’m sure some people are very happy about this, others are really angry and feel unappreciated, and I don’t blame them…

Trump gives bonuses to 776 air traffic controllers

We just recently saw an end to the 43-day government shutdown, which was the longest in United States history. During this time, we saw most government employees (including air traffic controllers) work without getting paychecks for weeks on end.

On November 10, 2025, President Trump took to social media in a pretty out-there post, where he praised the air traffic controllers who had perfect attendance during the shutdown, and blasted those who didn’t. He said he’d be “recommending a BONUS of $10,000 per person for distinguished service to our Country” for the air traffic controllers who didn’t miss a shift.

Perhaps surprisingly, this is actually happening. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has announced that air traffic controllers who had perfect attendance during the shutdown will be eligible for a $10,000 bonus. Of the over 10,000 air traffic controllers in the country, 776 will be getting the bonuses, meaning that around $7.8 million in bonuses will be paid out.

Per Duffy’s post on social media:

Santa’s coming to town a little early

President Trump wanted to give air traffic controllers and technicians BONUSES for showing up to work EVERY DAY during the government shutdown… and TODAY IS THE DAY!

776 patriotic men and women will get $10K checks, just in time for Christmas

God bless the patriots of our skies!

Why air traffic controllers are angry about this policy

I think we’re all grateful to the government employees who showed up during the shutdown, and kept our skies moving, even when they weren’t paid for weeks on end, and were largely facing major financial hardship.

I’m sure the small percentage of air traffic controllers receiving bonuses are happy. However, the vibes among a vast majority of air traffic controllers is very different, and they view this as a slap in the face. So those who had perfect attendance are “patriots,” while those who were sick one day and then picked up four overtime shifts aren’t.

I think the reality is that a vast majority of air traffic controllers suffered severe hardship, and still went above and beyond to keep our skies safe. Yet only a small percentage are being rewarded, and labeled as “patriots.”

Just take a look at the Reddit thread on this, where an air traffic controller is calling this “the $10,000 betrayal.” The comments are overwhelmingly negative:

• “This decision isn’t just unfair; it is divisive. It turns our collective sacrifices into a grading scale and pits controller against controller. It sends a message that the dedication of this entire workforce is somehow worth less than the circumstances of a few.”
• “I was sick one day during the entire shutdown. I took 4 OT shifts. I took credit on Sundays so I could play Warhammer before showing up to my afternoon shift. (1-2 hours) This sucks : ( Without getting too dramatic now, f*ckin reprehensible policy.”
• “Next time I get sick I guess I’ll show up and puke on the floor and then start singing the star spangled banner to prove my patriotism. F*ck this job is cooked.”
• “I am banging out every f*cking day next shutdown. Once my pay stops, so does me working. The next shutdown isn’t gonna go 40+ days.”
• “This has cemented my decision to use even more leave during the next shutdown. What an absolute way to make every controller feel abandoned by the government that supposedly ‘values’ us.”
• “Now imagine if someone has a midair or near miss during the next shutdown – and if they are asked what went wrong they say they were actually super sick and fatigued but went to work hoping to get a possible bonus? What a liability issue they just created.”
• “Controllers are already stretched to their limits. We are already fighting stagnant pay being further eroded by inflation, exhausting hours, staffing shortages, and the emotional strain of carrying the system on our backs. To now be told that only a small slice of us are ‘worthy’ of recognition is a betrayal of the reality we all are living through.”

I’m not surprised to see this reaction. To draw a parallel, just look at when a loyalty program has some sort of a targeted status fast track promotion. It rubs those people who aren’t targeted the wrong way, and they get angry.

This is like that, but much worse. Here you have thousands of people who made a legitimate sacrifice of working for weeks on end without pay, yet only a small percentage are being lauded as “patriots,” and being given a reward. It obviously makes everyone else feel unappreciated.

I understand the idea behind this bonus, but I do agree that this creates more ill will than anything, given how hard so many people worked, only to essentially be treated as if they didn’t do anything.

Bottom line

The Trump administration is following through on giving bonuses of $10,000 to air traffic controllers who had perfect attendance during the shutdown. This makes up just a very small percentage of the overall workforce, as 776 controllers will be getting bonuses.

For others, this is largely viewed as a slap in the face. Many air traffic controllers may have taken a day or two off because they were sick, only to then later pick up several extra shifts. Those people are getting nothing.

What do you make of this bonus for air traffic controllers, and the sentiment among so many of them?