<p>Two Democratic senators on Friday sent a letter to Federal Aviation Administrator Bryan Bedford, criticizing the administration for not implementing the full 3.8% pay raise for air traffic controllers that was approved by Congress four months ago.</p>
<p>Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) expressed concern over Bedford's inaction regarding the remaining 2.8% of the wage increase, noting that controllers had already received a 1% increase provided to federal civilian employees in January.</p>
<p>The senators stated that the conditions set for the pay increase, which include improvements to staffing, scheduling, and operational efficiencies, were “not a high bar.”</p>
<p>In their letter, they remarked, “The notion that your agency has failed to reach an agreement with air traffic controllers that they find satisfactory means that what you are requesting must not benefit controllers.”</p>
<p>Bedford previously indicated to the Washington Examiner that collaboration with the controllers’ union, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, to maximize workforce utilization would help “unlock the 2.8%,” which Duckworth and Durbin cited as evidence of the administrator not following Congress’s directive.</p>
<p>The senators criticized the approach, stating, “Holding air traffic controllers’ remaining 2.8 percent pay increase hostage to force a workforce that has operated under mandatory overtime for years to work longer hours is petty, disrespectful and counterproductive.” They added that the success of the Trump administration’s Brand New Air Traffic Control System would depend on the morale of the personnel expected to operate it.</p>
<p>The FAA has previously countered claims that it was disregarding Congress, referring to language in the law that grants the administrator discretion to implement the increase after confirming specific operational improvements have been made.</p>
<p>The statute provides the administrator with “sole discretion” to make this determination and states that, if made, the pay adjustment would be retroactive to the first pay period beginning after January 1. Furthermore, the statute does not specify the exact scheduling or staffing changes that Bedford must achieve before making this determination.</p>
<p>Bedford stated that he aims to reassess how employees are deployed throughout the day.</p>
<p>Duckworth and Durbin specifically criticized Bedford’s focus on workforce utilization, arguing that this approach could negatively impact air traffic controllers in the long term.</p>
<p>They stated, “Squeezing more ‘utilization’ out of air traffic controllers who have been understaffed, underpaid, and overworked for years will weaken retention and undermine aviation safety.”</p>
<p>In conclusion, Duckworth and Durbin urged Bedford to approve the pay raise that air traffic controllers have “rightfully earned,” highlighting that the administration has “moved quickly” to allocate funds for air traffic control equipment.</p>
<p>The Washington Examiner reached out to the FAA for comment.</p>