Tag: intercontinental

WASHINGTON Kristi Noem, the secretary of Homeland Security, announced Nov. 13 that Transportation Security Administration workers who provided “exemplary” service during the shutdown would receive $10,000 bonuses. “Their unsung patriotism deserves recognition,” Noem said in recognizing two TSA officers Reiko Walker, who worked double shifts, and Ashley Richardson, who canceled a move at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. Funding for the bonuses comes from $13. 2 billion Noem said Trump saved in cost-cutting since taking office. About 13, 000 air traffic controllers and 50, 000 TSA officers continued working during the shutdown as essential personnel. But many were absent as they searched for other income during the temporary halt in paychecks. Trump has proposed $10,000 bonuses for air traffic controllers with perfect attendance. The federal government continues to resume operations several days after the end of the longest shutdown in history, but advocates warn of potential continued delays getting back pay out the door, airline flights back on schedule and food benefits. President Donald Trump signed legislation Nov. 12 that ended the 43-day shutdown. For the record book, the White House clocked the shutdown at 42 days, 22 hours and 25 minutes. As the government gets back on its feet, workers expect to get back pay within the next few days, airlines are repositioning crews and planes after flight cancellations and states are scrambling to distribute food benefits heading into the Thanksgiving holiday. DOT Duffy calls air controllers ‘patriots’ who should get bonuses at White House Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy repeated Trump’s pledge to give air traffic controllers with perfect attendance during the shutdown each a $10,000 bonus and said they should get it from the president personally at the White House. About 13, 000 controllers and 50, 000 Transportation Security Administration officers kept working temporarily without paychecks during the shutdown to keep passengers flying. The controllers will get back pay and received paychecks Nov. 14 with 70% of their pay, he said. The number of controllers eligible for bonuses is still being calculated, Duffy said. “Depending on how many we have, they should come to the White House and he should present them with their checks,” Duffy said. “They are patriots. We are grateful to them for the work that they have done.” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said nearly 20, 000 flights were delayed during the shutdown due to short staffing. Vance calls out Senate Democrats over shutdown Vice President JD Vance says Democrats made a “huge political mistake” when they made demands to reopen the government that a group of moderates eventually caved on. “They caused a lot of stress for our troops, they made our air traffic controllers not get paid, and they caused a lot of flight cancellations. They had a lot of people thinking they were not going to get their food benefits, all for literally nothing,” Vance said “We could have struck this exact deal 45 days ago.” Most House and Senate Democrats voted against the GOP-backed bill to reopen the government. It passed with the support of six Democrats in the House and seven Democrats and an independent who caucuses with the party in the Senate. The White House Office of Management and Budget quickly put out guidance following the end of the shutdown that directs federal agencies to open, and furloughed workers to return “in a prompt and orderly manner” starting Nov. 13. OMB Director Russell Vought sent out the letter to department and agency heads Nov. 12 saying “employees we were on furlough due to the absence of appropriations should be directed to return to work on November 13.” An estimated 750, 000 workers were furloughed during the shutdown.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/kristi-noem-hands-10k-bonuses-171532957.html