Kristi Noem, DHS Secretary | official facebook
On Thursday in Houston, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced that Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers who demonstrated outstanding service during the recent government shutdown will receive a $10,000 bonus. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is providing these bonuses to recognize the efforts of officers who continued to work without pay during the shutdown.
“I’m pleased to announce that under President Trump, we are giving a $10,000 bonus to TSA officers across our nation who went above and beyond during the Democrats’ shutdown,” Secretary Noem said in a statement. “They guaranteed that America wouldn’t shut down – no matter how badly the Democrats wanted average Americans to feel the pain. Their unsung patriotism deserves recognition. President Trump and I are so grateful for these patriots.”
The DHS is funding these bonuses with carryover funds from Fiscal Year 2025. According to department officials, this was made possible by budget savings totaling over $13.2 billion since President Trump returned to office.
During her remarks at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Secretary Noem highlighted specific examples of TSA officers' dedication:
- Officer Reiko Walker, a 20-year veteran and member of TSA’s National Deployment Force, maintained perfect attendance throughout the shutdown and volunteered for additional shifts, ultimately working twice his scheduled hours.
- Officer Ashley Richardson also had perfect attendance but was forced to postpone moving into her own residence due to financial constraints caused by the shutdown.
Secretary Noem stated that despite facing uncertainty and financial hardship during the month-long shutdown, TSA officers nationwide ensured airport security operations continued without interruption.
# # #
