Trump team makes desperate bid to solve air traffic controller crisis

The U.S. Department of Transportation is offering thousands of dollars to both retiring and newly hired air traffic controllers in an effort to address a shortage of these essential air safety employees.

The Federal Aviation Administration, which is 3,500 air traffic controllers short of its target, unveiled a package that offers controllers who are at the mandatory retirement age of 56 a “lump sum payment” equal to 20% of their basic pay for every year they remain at the job.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says that, in addition to the large payment to retain controllers, the Trump administration plans to offer $5,000 “bonuses” to new graduates from the FAA Academy, with the promise of $10,000 for those who work at hard-to-staff facilities.

Duffy described the new plan as a way to “supercharge the air traffic controller workforce from both retention and hiring side of the equation.”

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/5/2/2319976/-Trump-team-makes-desperate-bid-to-solve-air-traffic-controller-crisis