The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on November 13, 2025 announced that select TSA officers who served during the recent 43-day federal government shutdown will receive one-time bonus payments of $10,000 each, though it isn’t clear what the criteria are for this award or how many will receive the bonus.
TSA To Award $10,000 Bonuses For Exemplary Service During Shutdown
DHS states that the funds will go to officers who “served with exemplary service” during the shutdown, when many TSA officers were required to work without pay. At a press conference, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said the bonuses are meant to recognize those who “took extra shifts, helped individuals, they served extra shifts … they were all examples of what we need.” She also clarified that the criteria do not rely solely on attendance, noting, “That’s not necessarily the parameters.”
Noem credited President Trump with the bonuses, saying:
“I’m pleased to announce that under President Trump, we are giving a $10,000 bonus to TSA officers across our nation who went above and beyond during the Democrats’ shutdown. They guaranteed that America wouldn’t shut down – no matter how badly the Democrats wanted average Americans to feel the pain. Their unsung patriotism deserves recognition. President Trump and I are so grateful for these patriots.”
When explaining that it would be more than just perfect attendance, Noem added, “We’re going to look at every individual that did exceptional service during this period of time when there were so many hardships.”
Trump earlier floated bonuses for Air Traffic Controllers.
Who Qualifies?
The shutdown required roughly 50,000 TSA officers to continue screening passengers without pay while airports faced staffing shortages and longer security lines. DHS said the bonuses are intended to help families “get back on their feet” after going without pay for six weeks.
In some sense, I’m all for that. Asking people to show up to work and without pay is a whole lot to ask and I am grateful for TSA agents and other federal employees who kept air travel moving during this shutdown.
I just hope that this is more than a publicity stunt; I hope that there will be transparency and a clearly laid-out criterion to ascertain who qualifies and who does not.
Maybe it is more than perfect attendance…maybe it is those who worked at least 20 hours of overtime as well (or something like that). But those who engaged in “exemplary” service or who went “above and beyond” just seem so vague.
I welcome clarification from DHS on this.
CONCLUSION
For now, TSA’s $10,000 bonus program targets officers who worked through the shutdown and were identified as providing exemplary service. DHS has indicated that more information on the criteria and the total number of officers receiving payments will be released as the program is implemented. Until then, I’ll withhold final judgment, but it seems to me that transparency is key here.
I hope you follow up on this because I have serious doubts that a meaningful number are going to get anything.
Agreed, Billy Bob. ATC deserve better than more false promises. We should be properly funding, training, hiring more, investing in people and equipment, new technology, all the above to better serve them and the traveling public. Instead, it’s likely just more hollow words from the grifter-in-chief.
I do hope this is followed through with to reward those who were smart and dedicated enough to pick up OT and managed their finances in a way that the lack of a paycheck that was coming eventually didn’t effect them.
When I say Hard Work and Tough Life Choices still pays off, this might be the perfect example of it. Opportunity knocks every day if one looks but many are too busy playing victim instead of answering the door.
Dave, he’ll likely do a token award to a few folks who were vocally Trump supporters; what would be a surprise is if someone who was not a supporter of the President, personally, and had worked throughout the entire shutdown actually also received this $10,000. Again, that’s assuming any of this is real, and not just another lie.
I semi disagree, there will have to be a qualifying criteria or the union will fight it. And I agree if they tried something like that it would be BS and deserve legal action.
It needs to be EVERYONE who meets said criteria, such as no call offs and picked up X number of hours.
And it’s a horrible look if it’s not followed up on.
As the union should fight this (no, not because they’re ‘evil’); the goal should be additional pay for all their members, not just ones deemed ‘loyal’ to the President, personally. If there are actual objective, transparent non-partisan qualifications, then, sure, an idea like this seems fine, but, again, Congress probably has to appropriate it, and even if its up to FAA or TSA, respectively, it’s gonna come under a lot of scrutiny, especially since Trump has weaponized every function of the government in furtherance of his ‘culture war’ in this ‘attention’ economy. By the way, are we going to war with Venezuela, just to get Trump’s involvement with Epstein and his victims outta the news again?
Have we learned nothing? Trump promises everything, pays no one, demands loyalty, but never reciprocates, and scapegoats the vulnerable to obtain and keep power. That said, if he’s gonna pay any $10K extra; pay them all.
We will not get ‘transparency’ unless we demand it; this is all ‘fluff,’ which is sad, because the controllers should have been paid. Bi-partisan legislation to ensure they are never used as pawns again would be far better and real.
If anything happens here, it’s likely going to be more favoritism for those deemed ‘supporters,’ regardless of whether they performed or not. It’s the whole anti-DEI, anti-woke, lie all over again.
I agree that in practice, this likely won’t be what we all would hope it should be – a reward based on multiple criteria given to deserving people no matter their politics. I flew during the shutdown and I’ll have to say – I don’t think I encountered any TSA who were more surly than usual. Yeah, maybe a little short staffed and in some places airports had other staff performing non-trained positions like moving bins around, telling people to take their phones outta their pockets, etc. But had numerous airports (mainly smaller ones) where you wouldn’t know there was anything different – and TSA was their normal happy friendly selves.
As outlined, if all intentions were good, what a great program. I’ve worked with TSA on a professional level and far more than just the people in blue shirts and there are some really amazing people with common sense and lots of experience there.
I find it a shame that neither party will likely do anything to remove air traffic controllers from being used in this way – but it is effective, isn’t it? We’ve found the nation’s pain point. I don’t feel like Democrats will really want to pull that either as it could work in their favor next time.
I think it’s a further shame that the government re0pening wasn’t even signed and both parties (and I’m aiming mostly at Democrats with this who wanted to change the media narrative to how they “caved”) are suddenly all Epstein all the time. Yes, that all needs to come out and should have long ago – but Democrats have certainly popped that back out quickly. I thought we needed an urgent discussion on healthcare and to head off what’s gonna happen in two more months. Maybe I’m wrong and both sides will come back to that, but for now, another flashy object. Epstein “files” release necessary but I just question the timing.
Well said and haven’t I seen you at a wedding before?
Your statement, “if all intentions were good”… really stands out to me. Nothing about Trump as an individual or his administrations seems to be ‘in-good-faith.’ It’s nearly always ulterior motives, special interests, or outright grifting.
As to the Trump-Epstein scandal, you do recall that Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson had been seeking to prevent releasing those files since September; the shutdown gave Johnson an excuse not to swear in Representative-elect Grijalva, who promised to be the 218th and final vote on a discharge petition that would force a vote on the Department of Justice to the release files. People want the truth. If Trump, Clinton, anyone was involved, they should be prosecuted, no longer in positions of public authority. Now, it’s plausible that the government shutdown was just one big a way to keep the Epstein files under wraps. Or, maybe Trump and his cronies wanted to gut the federal workforce. Maybe they wanted to undermine the Affordable Care Act. Maybe Trump simply wanted to run the country without the interference of Congress. Time will tell.
Without clear guidelines, it’s just another photo opportunity. I would like to believe it would be done fairly and without bias, but trump burned his honor long ago..
It’s not his money, it’s not Noem’s money. It is your money.
Exactly. Trump cannot legally, unilaterally give such bonuses as President (he could personally, though, that’s probably an ethics issue, but, let’s be real, he won’t spend his own money, because he’s cheap.)
He can direct FAA or TSA to give more money, but, executive branch bonuses for federal employees, like ATCs, generally require appropriated funds from Congress. I wish Congress would agree on bi-partisan legislation to better fund these agencies, specifically, to pay the workers more. But, they likely won’t.
I was reading that Title 5 gives agencies certain authorities for performance awards and incentives, and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issues guidance on how agencies can use these. So, Russ Vought of Project 2025… probably also doesn’t ‘like’ workers, unless they are ‘token supporters of the President.’ Feels scammy.
The government should have to pay the missed pay back to all federal government employees with 30% interest — not this bonus nonsense.
It’s not a bad idea; but, yet again, Congress would need to pass new legislation to do that.
Since the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019, workers are guaranteed back pay (even though Trump recently threatened not to pay them if furloughed, which was illegal), but typically not interest on the delayed wages.
Certain federal workers, namely active duty military, already have protections under The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) against creditors collecting debt, eviction, foreclosure; but, other federal employees do not have such protections.
Lawmakers frequently introduce a bill called the Federal Employee Civil Relief Act (FECRA), mimicking SCRA, during shutdowns. Wish they’d actually pass that following this mess. Otherwise, currently, federal works, including ATC, TSA, CBP, etc., must rely on the ‘goodness’ of creditors and financial institutions to ‘do the right thing,’ which is weak as hell.
According to several reports the funds to cover the $10,000 dollars will come from carryover funds from fiscal year 2025 that are still in DHS account already appropriated by Congress to DHS. That carryover fund by Noem’s own admission has over $13.2 Billion dollars. This is money already appropriated by Congress but was never spent which now has some people asking why didn’t DHS use these surplus funds to pay TSA agents? They used carryover funds to pay other departments that fall under the DHS umbrella but excluded the TSA meanwhile there is $13.2 billion dollars still sitting in the carryover fund account per Noem’s own words.
I’m happy TSA officers will receive the bonus they 1000% deserve it and more. More importantly they deserve to not be used as DHS political pawns when other departments still got their paycheck out of the same fund.
100%. Pay these workers. Pay them more. We need to prevent this and future administrations from abusing power like they have done here. Your comment: “why didn’t DHS use these surplus funds to pay TSA agents”… it’s because nothing this administration does is in good faith; it’s all a lie; all a grift; enrich themselves, reward loyalists and cronies, punish perceived enemies and those who are not in the ‘in’ group.
Ugh, why do Trumptards love the word ‘patriot’ so much? It seems like it’s the biggest word their tiny little brains can understand with regards to this absolute disaster of a country reminiscent of Germany circa 1935.
Getting a $10K bonus from someone who stages a press conference to call you a “patriot” for his cameras is like receiving a Rolex with the price tag still attached and a note saying “Remember who loves you.” Sure, the watch is real, but now you’re wearing a billboard. And the second you don’t applaud enthusiastically enough at the next rally, that “gift” becomes exhibit A in the trial of your insufficient gratitude. Some presents come with strings attached; this one comes with a full marionette rig.
Let’s talk about those suddenly-flexible budget constraints. During the shutdown, we were told it was legally impossible to pay air traffic controllers: appropriations law, hands tied, nothing we can do. Never mind that this is the same administration that declared a national emergency to redirect military funds for a border wall when Congress said no, or held up Ukraine aid in violation of the Impoundment Control Act. Appropriations law is apparently more like appropriations suggestion, binding only when convenient. Meanwhile, tariffs are supposedly raking in billions “for the American people,” yet that revenue funds sweetheart trade deals with Argentina instead of keeping SNAP benefits flowing or paying essential workers. The money exists. It has always existed. “We can’t afford it” has always just meant “we don’t want to spend it on you.” But a photo op with 20 TSA agents and campaign-style rhetoric? For that, the coffers open right up.
Beyond stupid. Lots of people worked for free. For example everyone staffing the VA hospitals. I guess veterans health isn’t as important to him…
It’s sad. They shouldn’t ‘work for free.’ We fought a literal war to stop slavery. Have we learned nothing?
@1990: Could you please explain to me a single employee that worked for free during the shutdown? They worked without being paid on time but it is not that all those days they worked they won’t receive money. Look, it sucks and I hope this BS never repeats but this is very different than someone being forced to work for a company that is going down. Everyone knew this was a political BS and sooner or later the Government would reopen and everyone would be paid. So, nobody worked for free, nobody worked days that will not be paid, so the ones that were smart enough to understand this, worked hard and are now being compensated.
Now, read about the vandalism on National Parks during the shutdown. Why? Because those workers simply did not show up to work at all so many National Parks were left abandoned. Do you think these people should receive money for the days the Government was shut?
Santastico, that’s a disingenuous question, and Cy and I’s use of hyperbole is not inappropriate, given the circumstances and how those federal workers have been used as pawns here. During this most recent shutdown, I spoke with TSA and CBP agents, thanking them for what they’re doing and regretting what they’re dealing with. They are not ‘happy’ about being mistreated this way by any administration.
The current continuing resolution goes through January 2026 (like, 3 months), so, when and if, Republicans fail to provide healthcare insurance premium assistance again, as, they likely will ‘hold a vote’ in the Senate this December (but it won’t pass, because Republicans don’t actually care about Americans’ health), we can expect another shutdown in early 2026. So, why don’t you go to an airport at that time, during the next shutdown, and ask some federal employees how they feel about not getting paid (TSA, CBP, etc.)? Report back here with your findings. Let’s go from there.
For everyone here complaining about this bonus and asking for transparency, you probably never heard of the word discretionary. According to the dictionary it means “available for use at the discretion of the user or left to individual choice or judgment”
I worked for companies that provided discretionary bonuses and it was awesome. I was both, a receiver and giver of discretionary bonus and it is a great way to reward as said above “people that went above and beyond their duties”. Usually when you work for a company, you have a base salary and a targeted bonus that is set at the beginning of the year with clear metrics. You archive the metrics at the end of the year and you know what bonus you are getting. The problem with that is that you usually have no incentive to go above your targets. Think when airlines had a cap on how many miles you would need to achieve their higher status. There was zero incentive for me to continue flying with that airline for the remainder of the year once I had achieved that status until they allowed me to carry over miles above and beyond the limit to qualify for status next year.
Now, many companies set aside an amount of money that managers can give to employees at their discretion for employees that went above and beyond of what was expected of them. Here is the thing: there are no metrics, there are no rules on who receives it and that makes it very interesting because if you don’t receive it but think you went above and beyond, next year you will want to go ever higher.
TSA bonuses is clearly discretionary and you will never know why some individuals got it. Maybe they simply showed up t work without gossiping and complaining about not being paid, maybe they just had a smile on their face even though they were not being paid, maybe they arrived earlier and left later to cover for people that did not show up without expecting anything in exchange, etc…. It is discretionary and will probably give an incentive to people to work hard again in case this event repeats in the future.
The Federal Government is not a private company. There are rules for bonuses discretionary and otherwise. I believe most here are happy to reward good employees, but this cannot be a politically based bonus with a bias. That is what is troubling and using MAGA language to announce this calls a lot into question.
From ChatGPT: “Can Government employees receive discretionary bonuses?”
Yes, government employees can receive discretionary bonuses, which are cash awards granted for exceptional performance or accomplishments that improve government operations. Agencies have the authority to give awards based on an employee’s performance, with different levels of approval required for different award amounts.
How discretionary bonuses work
Performance-based: The bonuses are given to recognize superior performance and are not part of an employee’s regular salary.
Discretionary nature: To be discretionary, the bonus cannot be promised in advance as part of an employment contract or agreement. The employer must have sole discretion over whether to award the bonus and how much to pay.
Award limits:
Agencies can grant awards up to $10,000 without needing approval from higher authorities.
Awards between $10,000 and $25,000 require approval from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
Awards over $25,000 require Presidential approval after being reviewed and approved by OPM.
Examples: Discretionary bonuses can be awarded for unique or extraordinary efforts, overcoming challenging situations, or for being named employee-of-the-month.
What qualifies as discretionary
Not a prior promise: The bonus is not based on a prior agreement or promise, and the employee should not expect it regularly.
Awarded after the fact: The decision to grant the bonus and the amount is determined by the employer until a time quite close to the end of the bonus period.
Subjective judgment: The bonus is often awarded based on a subjective judgment of the employee’s performance or accomplishments.