Trump Offers to Cover Astronauts’ Overtime Pay After Unexpected 9-Month Space Stay
Williams and Wilmore were initially scheduled for a brief week-long mission in June last year, but technical issues with the Boeing spacecraft extended their time aboard the International Space Station (ISS) to 278 days.
During a White House press briefing, a reporter asked Trump whether the astronauts would receive additional compensation for their prolonged mission. He responded, "Nobody's ever mentioned this to me. If I have to, I will pay it out of my own pocket."
Surprisingly, under current policies, the astronauts will not receive any extra salary for their extended time in space. As federal employees, NASA astronauts are paid a fixed salary regardless of the duration of their missions. While NASA provides their transportation, food, and lodging, the only additional compensation they receive is a small daily allowance for incidentals—just $5 per day. This means that despite enduring months of physical and mental strain, Williams and Wilmore will receive only $1,430 (approximately ₹1,22,980) in extra pay.
Upon learning about this, Trump expressed his disbelief, saying, "Is that all? That's not a lot for what they had to go through."
NASA astronauts, including Williams and Wilmore, adhere to a standard 40-hour workweek and do not receive overtime, weekend, or holiday pay.
According to reports, Williams, a highly experienced astronaut, falls under the GS-15 pay grade, earning an annual salary of $152,258 (approximately ₹1.3 crore), along with benefits such as health insurance and a housing allowance.
