Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced $10,000 bonuses for Transportation Security Administration agents who exhibited “exemplary service” while continuing to work during the government shutdown. Noem’s announcement took place at a Houston airport and comes on the tail end of a 43-day government shutdown.
A Trump administration official told MSNBC that the bonuses will be awarded to “several thousand” agents who were given high performance marks by their supervisors.
President Donald Trump recommended a similar bonus payout for air traffic controllers who essentially had perfect attendance, never “calling out sick” during the shutdown. The specific stipulations — whether 100% attendance during the shutdown is required for TSA agents to receive the bonus or not — is unclear.
The bonus money provided to agents will come from carry over funds from fiscal year 2025, according to an internal memo at the Department of Homeland Security, obtained by MSNBC.
Vaughn Hillyard is a senior White House reporter for MS NOW.
Akayla Gardner is a White House correspondent for MS NOW.
Jake Traylor
Jake Traylor is a White House correspondent for MS NOW.