In a move that’s making waves both on Earth and in space, former President Donald Trump has offered to personally pay the overtime wages of two astronauts who were stuck in space nearly a year longer than planned.
Astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams were on a mission aboard Boeing’s Starliner when technical delays forced them to remain in orbit for a whopping 286 days—far longer than expected.
After months of uncertainty, they finally returned to Earth aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule.
Now, Trump says he wants to make sure these American heroes get paid for the extra time they put in.
And not with taxpayer money. From his own wallet.
“If NASA won’t pay them overtime, I will,” Trump said in a short statement. “These are brave patriots. They deserve better.”
JUST IN: Trump announces he’s willing to pay overtime out of his OWN POCKET for the astronauts who were stranded in Space for 10 months
What a guy.
The federal government had only been paying them $5 PER DAY for the 10 months they were up there pic.twitter.com/MnUc7GSDZJ
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) March 21, 2025
In an era where Washington seems to throw billions around like confetti, Trump’s offer stands out as a personal, voluntary act of support.
Instead of calling for more government spending or pushing through new regulations, Trump is stepping in as a private citizen to do what he thinks is right—helping two Americans who were let down by a government-backed project.
This isn’t the first time Trump has leaned into this kind of direct action.
Back when he was in office, he often said the government should be run more like a business—leaner, more efficient, and focused on results.
And for many, this latest move is a good example of that philosophy in action.
Wilmore and Williams were supposed to return months ago on Boeing’s new Starliner spacecraft. But technical issues, including problems with the thrusters and software, kept delaying their journey home.
Critics have long questioned whether Boeing was ready to safely carry humans into space.
As the delays dragged on, concerns grew not just for the astronauts’ safety, but for how they would be compensated.
NASA doesn’t have a clear policy on how to pay astronauts for unexpected time in orbit.
Unlike workers on Earth, there’s no punch-clock in space.
Trump’s offer highlights a key question: When government-funded programs fail or fall short, who steps up?
Should taxpayers always be the ones footing the bill? Or should there be more accountability?
To put it in everyday terms—imagine you’re working a job that requires travel. You expect to be gone for two weeks, but your flight keeps getting canceled, and you’re stuck out of town for almost a year.
You’d probably expect some kind of compensation, right?
That’s what happened here. Only instead of being stuck at a hotel in Omaha, these two were orbiting the Earth.
A lot of working Americans know what it’s like to put in extra time and not get paid for it. Trump’s move speaks to that frustration.
And it reminds people that sometimes, leadership means doing something yourself instead of waiting for the government to step in.
Some on the left say Trump is just making a political stunt. They argue the federal government—through NASA—should handle astronaut compensation.
Others worry that personal offers like this set a bad precedent.
But supporters say they’d rather have a billionaire helping workers than a bloated government wasting tax dollars on red tape and empty promises.
Do we want a government that always needs to step in? Or do we believe individuals—especially those with the means—should step up and help when they can?
Trump’s offer may not solve all of NASA’s problems, but it’s a small, powerful reminder that America works best when regular people take action, instead of waiting for Washington to figure it out.
In a time when faith in government is low, and when many families are tightening their belts while bureaucrats keep spending, this kindness is resonating.
Trump’s critics might not like it. But for millions of Americans who believe in personal responsibility, limited government, and honoring those who serve, it’s one more reason why Trump continues to strike a chord.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
