Representative Aaron Bean (R-FL) is introducing legislation to protect the salaries of critical air traffic controllers and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) personnel during government shutdowns.
As Fox News reports, Rep. Bean's Aviation Funding Stability Act of 2025 ensures that these employees continue to receive their pay during a government shutdown, particularly as air travel is expected to increase over the next several months.
Specifically, the bill appropriates funds from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, which is sourced from various taxes, including airline tickets and fuel, that have not yet been allocated to pay FAA personnel and air traffic controllers for up to 30 days after a government shutdown.
In a statement, Rep. Bean called the bill "a preemptive strike against chaos in the control tower, ensuring that the backbone of our aviation system doesn't buckle under political gridlock."
"While Congress continues negotiations on funding the federal government, I hope we can all agree: The people who keep America's skies running should be paid on time," the Florida Congressman expressed. "We can't afford to let a government shutdown disrupt the backbone of our aviation system."
He noted that his legislation is "about protecting public safety and standing up for the aviation professionals who keep our country moving."
Multiple congressional Republicans have had their congressional salaries withheld during the shutdown as a gesture of solidarity with federal employees, including those in the military, Border Patrol, and FAA. Meanwhile, Representative Cory Mills (R-FL) has introduced a similar bill to ensure that troops continue to be paid during a shutdown.
"If our troops don't get paid, neither should Congress," Rep. Mills shared on X. "While Democrats refuse to act in Washington, I'm focused on solutions... Our servicemembers make incredible sacrifices — the least we can do is make sure they aren’t caught in the crossfire of a broken budget process."
