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:

Hundreds of air traffic controllers (ATCs) and FAA technicians who worked without pay and maintained perfect attendance during the federal government shutdown will receive a $10,000 bonus.
The shutdown led to significant air travel disruptions, including a spike in flight delays attributed to ATC staffing shortages, underscoring the severe impact on both personnel and millions of travelers.
Legislators and aviation groups are now pushing for new bills to ensure the FAA and its employees are funded during future government shutdowns, aiming to prevent a recurrence of these critical operational challenges.

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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.