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Funding for the bonuses will come from Amtrak’s executive
leadership team bonus packages, the statement said. The federal
administration urged executive leadership "to forgo 50% of the
bonus packages that would have been paid out under the misplaced
priorities of the previous executive bonus structure.”
Amtrak set all-time records for both ridership and revenue in
the 2025 fiscal year, according to its annual report, with over
$2.7 billion in ticket revenue from 34.5 million riders.
The bonuses were applauded by some unions representing train
workers.
"End-of-year bonuses will now go to 18,000 front-line workers
rather than being limited to the executive ranks. This
long-overdue recognition of the employees who keep the railroad
moving is a step in the right direction,” Mark Wallace, the
president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and
Trainmen National union, said in a statement.
The announcement comes amid ongoing controversy over the Trump
administration's decision to limit $10,000 bonuses to air
traffic controllers and technicians who had perfect attendance
during the government shutdown — a measure that rewarded only
776 people, and left nearly 20,000 other workers without the
payment.
The disparity was blasted by air traffic controller unions at
the time of the announcement in November.
“We are concerned that thousands of air traffic controllers who
consistently reported for duty during the shutdown, ensuring the
safe transport of passengers and cargo across the nation, while
working without pay and uncertain of when they would receive
compensation, were excluded from this recognition,” the National
Air Traffic Controllers Association union said in a statement.
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