Hundreds of ATCs to Receive $10,000 Bonus in December

FAA and DOT announce award for air traffic controllers that maintained ‘perfect attendance’ during the government shutdown.

Jack Daleo

Friday, November 21, 2025 at 03:46 PM ET

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Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Air traffic control [Credit: FLYING Archive]

Key Takeaways:

A $10,000 bonus will be awarded to 776 air traffic controllers and FAA technicians who maintained perfect attendance during the recent federal government shutdown.
The shutdown severely impacted air traffic operations, causing staffing issues, increased sick leave, and significant flight delays, with ATCs working without pay despite already facing understaffing and long hours.
Lawmakers and aviation groups are advocating for new legislation to ensure FAA employees are funded during future government shutdowns, aiming to prevent similar disruptions to air travel.

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Hundreds of air traffic controllers (ATCs) and FAA technicians who were required to work without pay during the federal government shutdown will receive a $10,000 bonus next month, the FAA and U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) said Thursday.

Of the approximately 11,000 ATCs and 6,600 technicians that remained on the job, 776 had “perfect attendance,” the agencies said. Recipients will receive a notification next week and be paid no later than December 9.