Aviation and FAA

Sen. Tammy Duckworth, the Senate aviation subcommittee’s ranking member, sent a letter to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy demanding the DOT expand $10,000 shutdown bonuses to all FAA air traffic controllers and technicians who worked without pay, not just those with perfect attendance. DOT previously limited the awards to 776 employees after a 44-day shutdown; NATCA says only 311 union members would qualify, while Duckworth and controllers warn the policy creates unsafe incentives to work while ill.