Some federal employees are going to be getting bonuses to honor them for their consistent hard work during the recent government shutdown.
Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced that Transportation Security Agency (TSA) officers “who went above and beyond” during the shutdown will be getting a $10,000 bonus in appreciation for their hard work and service.
Noem mentioned two TSA officers by name for their outstanding service during public remarks she made on Thursday, November 13:
- TSA officer Reiko Walker, an officer of 20 years and part of TSA’s National Deployment Force, had perfect attendance during the shutdown and filled in on extra shifts. At the end of six weeks, he willingly worked double of what he was originally scheduled for.
- TSA officer Ashley Richardson, is another officer who had perfect attendance. After months of excelling at her work, she planned on moving into her own place but had to cancel those plans because of the government shutdown.
DHS is paying for the bonuses with carry over funds from fiscal year 2025.
President Trump also said he would like to give bonuses to air traffic controllers who worked consistently during the shutdown. In a post on Truth Social, he wrote, “For those Air Traffic Controllers who were GREAT PATRIOTS, and didn’t take ANY TIME OFF for the ‘Democrat Shutdown Hoax,’ I will be recommending a BONUS of $10,000 per person for distinguished service to our Country.”
He discussed it further during an interview on Monday. In an appearance on Fox News, he said:
Here’s somebody that goes and shows up every single day. Some of them showed up early because they knew there was going to be a problem. A lot of the people that showed up also had a second job. They took a second job temporarily, but they all know the money’s coming, and the money was coming. So I want to reward the people that showed up without a lot of nonsense, without a lot of talk, they did their job, and in many cases, they worked longer hours to get us through this period.
When asked where the money to pay the bonuses would come from, he said, “I don’t know, I’ll get it from someplace.”
Now that the longest government shutdown in U.S. history is over, federal employees who were furloughed are returning to work and will be getting back pay soon. They also will have deductions from their pay resume for the cost of elected benefits. When and how the back pay arrives will be different for each agency, but it is expected to come within several days for most federal employees.
