Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem traveled to Houston on Thursday to deliver $10,000 bonus checks to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers who continued working during the recent 43-day government shutdown, as reported by Fox News.

Noem made the announcement at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, where she recognized federal employees who reported to work without pay during the funding lapse.

“We will be looking at every single TSA official that helped serve during this government shutdown to do what we can to recognize that and help them financially with a bonus check to help them and their family get back on their feet,” Noem said at a press conference before handing out checks to roughly 20 TSA employees.

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Officials did not specify whether full attendance during the shutdown was required to qualify for the bonus.

A White House spokesperson defended the bonuses and criticized the cause of the shutdown. “The Democrats’ decision to shut down the government – over demands to give free health care to illegal aliens – deprived many Americans of their paychecks, including TSA officers,” the spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

“The Trump Administration is grateful to the hardworking TSA officers who continued to work, without pay, to ensure America stayed safe in spite of the Democrat Shutdown.”

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President Donald Trump has also signaled support for compensating other federal workers who remained on duty. Earlier this week, he raised the prospect of issuing bonuses to air traffic controllers who did not miss work during the shutdown.

“All Air Traffic Controllers must get back to work, NOW!!! Anyone who doesn’t will be substantially ‘docked,’” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

He added, “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.”

Government shutdown is officially over.

President Trump signed the bill to reopen the government and federal workers can finally return to work and receive their back pay. pic.twitter.com/uxufKSdBHA

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In a post on X on Thursday, Noem thanked Department of Homeland Security employees for working without pay during the shutdown.

“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.”

Noem added, “Thanks to @POTUS Trump, our government is open. Together, we will continue to deliver on our promise to the American people: securing our homeland.”

The shutdown ended Wednesday night after the House passed a bill to fund the government.

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