President Donald Trump said he would reward government workers who continued showing up during the historic Schumer Shutdown, and he has made good on those promises, giving TSA agents a $10,000 bonus check.
On Thursday, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem held a press conference in Houston at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, where she announced that the Trump administration was going to be handing out bonus checks of $10,000 to TSOs.
.@Sec_Noem announces $10,000 bonus checks for @TSA agents who showed up for work and took on extra shifts — despite not receiving paychecks — during the Democrat Shutdown. pic.twitter.com/TqncMEPPnl
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) November 13, 2025
READ MORE: Trump to Air Traffic Controllers: Back to Work, Now
MORE: Report: Schumer's Plans to Keep the Schumer Shutdown From Ending Were Worse Than We Thought
"Today, we are announcing that we are going to be handing out bonus checks of $10,000 to TSOs [Transportation Security Officers], to agents who work for TSA who served with exemplary service," Noem said. "And what that means is that we are going to not only continue their paychecks like they should've received all along. But also they're going to get a bonus check for stepping up, taking on extra shifts."
"For showing up each and every day for serving the American people," she added. "And taking seriously the mission that the Department of Homeland Security takes seriously and that they take seriously every single day. And that's keeping the American people safe while they go and commute across the country. And while they do their work and business and take care of their families."
Noem then turned to the agents standing beside her and around her and started handing out checks to what appeared to be about a dozen agents, and shaking their hands while thanking them.
Watch:
HOLY SH*T!@Sec_Noem handed out $10,000 bonus checks to Houston TSA workers who SHOWED UP to work during the Schumer shutdown. 🙏
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) November 13, 2025
God bless them!pic.twitter.com/5Um5MtgGkf
Noem later wrote in a post on X:
Thank you to every @DHSgov team member for your dedication and resilience throughout the Democrats’ Shutdown—43 days without pay for many of you—a hardship on your families.
— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) November 13, 2025
Your continued work and dedication to protecting our homeland are a testament to your patriotism. You…
It read, in part:
Thank you to every @DHSgov team member for your dedication and resilience throughout the Democrats' Shutdown—43 days without pay for many of you—a hardship on your families.
Your continued work and dedication to protecting our homeland are a testament to your patriotism. You made America safer during the longest shutdown in American history.
On Monday, President Trump called for Air Traffic Controllers to return to work as the shutdown dragged on, and he promised a bonus for those ATCs who didn't take time off and continued working without a paycheck, as RedState reported.
Trump wrote:
Air Traffic Controllers must get back to work, NOW!!! Anyone who doesn't will be substantially "docked." For those Air Traffic Controllers who were GREAT PATRIOTS, and didn't take ANY TIME OFF for the "Democrat Shutdown Hoax," I will be recommending a BONUS of $10,000 per person for distinguished service to our Country. 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. You didn't step up to help the U.S.A. against the FAKE DEMOCRAT ATTACK that was only meant to hurt our Country. You will have a negative mark, at least in my mind, against your record. If you want to leave service in the near future, please do not hesitate to do so, with NO payment or severance of any kind! You will be quickly replaced by true Patriots, who will do a better job on the Brand New State of the Art Equipment, the best in the World, that we are in the process of ordering. The last "Administration" wasted Billions of Dollars trying to fix antiquated "junk." They had no idea what they were doing! Again, to our great American Patriots, GOD BLESS YOU - I won't be able to send your money fast enough! To all others, REPORT TO WORK IMMEDIATELY. GOD BLESS AMERICA! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP
Glad to see these hard workers have been rewarded after the Democrats punished Americans with their political move.
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