All the Free Money Trump Has Promised — and Where It All Stands

The longest government shutdown in US history began on October 1, spanning 43 days while Democrats and Republicans in Congress negotiated a new budget.

The fallout forced the government to furlough hundreds of thousands of federal workers, while others — such as air traffic controllers — had to continue working without pay ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday rush.

Air traffic controllers received their first $0 paychecks in late October. Some of them stopped showing up for work, sparking a staffing shortage and an onslaught of flight delays and cancellations.

In November, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told CBS News’ “Face the Nation” that the shutdown put air traffic controllers in a difficult spot.

“They’re confronted with a decision: Do I put food on my kids’ table, do I put gas in the car, do I pay my rent, or do I go to work and not get paid? They’re making decisions,” Duffys said. “I’ve encouraged them all to come to work. I want them to come to work, but they’re making life decisions that they shouldn’t have to make.”

Trump, meanwhile, criticized the air traffic controllers who had not shown up for work during the shutdown in a November Truth Social post.

“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 wrote.

He said air traffic controllers who didn’t take time off during the shutdown were “GREAT PATRIOTS” and he would recommend a $10,000 bonus for each of them.

Duffy shared more details in an X post, writing that 776 air traffic controllers would receive $10,000 bonus checks in early December.

“Santa’s coming to town a little early,” Duffy wrote.