Durbin Slams Trump Administration For Withholding Air Traffic Controllers’ Pay Raise

September 17, 2026 Durbin Slams Trump Administration For Withholding Air Traffic Controllers’ Pay Raise In April, Congress authorized a 3.8 percent pay raise for all air traffic controllers, but the Trump Administration is wrongfully delaying the implementation of the full raise WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor condemning the Trump Administration for refusing to deliver air traffic controllers’ congressionally authorized 3.8 percent pay raise because Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Bryan Bedford argued that more controller productivity needs to be “unlocked.” In his remarks, Durbin underscored that air traffic controllers play a critical role in keeping fliers safe and that withholding their promised pay raise only exacerbates the stressful conditions that air traffic controllers already face. Durbin began his remarks by commending air traffic controllers on their commitment to the safety of air travelers. Despite Congress authorizing a 3.8 percent pay increase for air traffic controllers, they have only received the 1 percent pay increase authorized for all government employees. “Later this afternoon, I’ll take an airplane ride from Washington to Chicago… Once again, as I’ve done thousands of times, I will entrust my safety and my future and my survival to a competent air crew, as well as the air traffic controllers of America. It is one of the most stressful jobs in the world. They work six-day weeks. Unfortunately, there’s been proposals that they should not receive the pay raise that was promised,” Durbin said. The Trump Administration is directly responsible for withholding the promised pay raise, and Administration officials have gone so far as to publicly admit they are blocking its implementation. “This wasn’t a mere oversight. It was intentional, and the Administration admitted it. In a recent interview, the FAA Administrator, Bryan Bedford, was asked what was delaying this payment to the air traffic controllers. He told the reporter, the Administration needs to ‘unlock more productivity,’ and that the data regarding controller productivity is ‘really, really poor,’” Durbin continued. “Well, I’d like to quote [Transportation] Secretary Duffy back to his own agency head by saying controllers ‘need support, and they need money.’” Durbin concluded his remarks by calling on the Trump Administration to stop stalling and finally provide air traffic controllers with the pay raise they are owed. “We currently are understaffed when it comes to air traffic controllers. They are working six days a week on the most stressful job. Give them the pay raise that we promised and do it in a timely fashion,” Durbin said. Last month, Durbin and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) wrote to FAA Administrator Bedford, urging him to quickly approve the controller pay increase already approved by Congress. Video of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here. Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here . Footage of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here for TV Stations. -30- Print Email Share Tweet