US to pay $10,000 bonuses for exemplary TSA officers during shutdown



 

WASHINGTON — The head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said on Thursday it would pay $10,000 bonuses to Transportation Security Administration officers who demonstrated exemplary service during the 43-day government shutdown, a spokesperson for the department said.

President Donald Trump said this week he wanted to award $10,000 bonuses to air traffic controllers who did not skip work. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said he would work with Congress on the awards.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the bonus checks were being awarded to TSA officers who took extra shifts and went above and beyond work requirements during the shutdown. "They were an example ... They helped individuals, they served extra shifts," Noem said. "They helped with transportation of people getting back and forth to work."

Noem said the checks were aimed at helping families of workers get back on their feet after going without pay for six weeks. Some workers struggled to pay mortgages, child care or other essential costs.

The government shutdown that ended on Wednesday forced 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 TSA officers to work without pay. Staffing issues snarled travel at airports in recent weeks, sometimes leading to long security lines because of TSA absences and tens of thousands of delayed and canceled flights due to a lack of air traffic controllers.

Source : https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/world/20251114/us-to-pay-10000-bonuses-for-exemplary-tsa-officers-during-shutdown

Comprehension

Who announced that TSA officers would receive $10,000 bonuses?
Why were the bonuses being given to TSA officers?
How long did the government shutdown last?
What did President Trump say he wanted to award to air traffic controllers?
What kinds of extra work did TSA officers do during the shutdown?
Why were the bonus checks important for TSA workers and their families?
How many TSA officers had to work without pay during the shutdown?
What problems occurred at airports during the shutdown?

Discussion

Do you think workers should receive bonuses for working without pay during a shutdown? Why or why not?
How does a government shutdown affect ordinary people?
What challenges might TSA officers face during a long shutdown?
Should air traffic controllers also receive bonuses? Explain your opinion.
How do unpaid workers stay motivated during hard situations?
What might happen to airport safety during a long shutdown?
How would you feel if you had to work for more than a month without pay?
What responsibilities does a government have toward its workers?
Are bonuses enough to make up for missed paychecks? Why or why not?
What should be done to prevent similar shutdown problems in the future?

Vocabulary

Bonus – extra money given for good work.
Exemplary – showing excellent behavior or performance.
Shutdown – when a government or business stops operating temporarily.
Award – to give something as a reward or prize.
Essential – extremely important or necessary.
Struggle – to have difficulty doing something because of problems.
Snarl – to cause delays or confusion (often used about traffic or schedules).
Absence – the state of not being present or not attending work.