Promises made. Promises kept.
And that includes those made during the recent government shutdown.
Earlier this week, President Donald Trump vowed a bonus would be paid to airport workers who didn’t take time off and continued working without a paycheck during the longest government shutdown on record.
Yesterday, Trump began making good on that promise.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced yesterday during a press conference in Houston at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, that the Trump administration was going to be handing out bonus checks of $10,000 starting with Transportation Security Officers (TSO) citing “exemplary service” and “stepping up” during the government shutdown.
Noem made the announcement at a press conference, standing alongside a group of TSA agents who were among the more than one million government workers who went weeks without pay.
Government workers who went without paychecks during the 44-day government shutdown are also getting back pay.
“We are not only going to continue their paychecks like they should’ve received all along, but also they’re going to receive a bonus check for stepping up, taking on extra shifts, for showing up each and every day, for serving the American people,” Noem said.
Noem added that the administration “will be looking at every single TSA official that helped serve during this government shutdown and do what we can to recognize that and help them financially with a bonus check to get them and their family back on their feet.” The Homeland Security Secretary then passed out checks to the agents standing behind her.
Take a look —
.@Sec_Noem announces $10,000 bonus checks for @TSA agents who showed up for work and took on extra shifts — despite not receiving paychecks — during the Democrat Shutdown. pic.twitter.com/TqncMEPPnl
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) November 13, 2025
Trump also promised to hand out $10,000 bonus checks to air traffic controllers who stayed on the job during the shutdown.
“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,” Trump said on Monday on Truth Social.
“For those that did nothing but complain, and took time off, even though everyone knew they would be paid, IN FULL, shortly into the future, I am NOT HAPPY WITH YOU,” Trump said. “You didn’t step up to help the U.S.A. against the FAKE DEMOCRAT ATTACK that was only meant to hurt our Country. You will have a negative mark, at least in my mind, against your record,” Trump added.
The airline and air travel industry was hit very hard by the recent shutdown as the federal government had to address a massive shortage of air traffic controllers.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said last week it would be forced to cut air traffic by up to 10% at 40 of the busiest airports across the country as the shutdown continued.
While the shutdown is now in the rearview mirror, the ripple effects of the shutdown on the airline industry will likely continue ahead of the busy Thanksgiving holiday.