(NewsNation) — Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem gave TSA employees at the Tampa International Airport a $10,000 bonus check for working through the government shutdown.
During a news conference on Monday, Noem said the select employees, and more, were receiving the bonuses because they showed “exemplary service” during the 43-day shutdown.
Noem said the individuals who received the checks have been nominated by their supervisors, and said more will be coming for employees at other airports.
Last month, Noem handed out bonus checks to TSA employees at Boston’s Logan Airport and Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport who worked throughout the shutdown without pay and did not call off.
The shutdown put a strain on airports, as many TSA employees and air traffic controllers started to call out of work. As government employees, they do not get a paycheck in the event of a shutdown. As many as 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 TSA employees worked without pay.