U.S. President Donald Trump made a significant statement regarding the overtime pay of astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore. He declared that if NASA fails to compensate them for their extended mission, he would personally cover the cost.
Washington: On Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump made a substantial announcement concerning the overtime pay of astronauts. He stated that he would personally pay for the astronauts' overtime. Notably, both astronauts returned to Earth this week after spending a total of 286 days in space, significantly exceeding their planned 8-day mission. A technical malfunction forced their extended stay of 278 days.
Trump's Surprising Statement
Two veteran NASA astronauts, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, experienced an unforeseen extension to their mission. Scheduled for an 8-day mission, a technical malfunction stranded them in space for 286 days. During a White House press conference, when Trump was asked if the government would provide these astronauts with additional compensation, he responded:
He said, "No one has spoken to me about this, but if necessary, I will personally pay their overtime." Trump's statement has ignited a heated debate on this issue across America.
NASA Regulations and Elon Musk's Role
According to NASA regulations, astronauts receive only $5 USD in additional pay per day, totaling a mere $1,430 for 286 days. Earlier reports suggesting Williams and Wilmore would receive no overtime pay sparked considerable outrage on social media.
During the press conference, Trump also praised SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, stating, "If we didn't have Elon Musk, these two might have spent even more time in space. We thank Musk for bringing them back safely."
