Featured Image Credit: MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO/AFP via Getty Images
Topics: Donald Trump, Money, NASA, US News, Space, International Space Station, Space X
Poppy Bilderbeck
Topics: Donald Trump, Money, NASA, US News, Space, International Space Station, Space X
US President Donald Trump has weighed in on NASA astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams not receiving overtime pay.
NASA astronauts Barry 'Butch' Wilmore and Sunita 'Suni' Williams were stuck in space for over nine months when they were meant to only be at the International Space Station (ISS) for eight days.
Despite this and the toll its taken on the astronauts lives - whether it be family, plans, mental and or physical health - a NASA spokesperson revealed the pair 'do not receive overtime or holiday/ weekend pay' and will 'receive regular, 40-hour work-week salaries' for their unplanned time in space.
After taking off for the ISS on June 5, 2024 for their 'eight-day trip', Wilmore and Williams ultimately only ended up touching back down on Earth earlier this week on March 18.
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The pair were unable to return home for so long as a result of malfunctions with their returning spacecraft and had to be rescued by SpaceX Crew Dragon.
Despite the duo being forced to extend their visit against their own choice, a NASA spokesperson told FOX Business: "When NASA astronauts are aboard the International Space Station, they receive regular, 40-hour work-week salaries. They do not receive overtime or holiday/weekend pay."
They added: "They are also on long-term TDY (Temporary Duty), and receive the incidentals amount for each day they are in space. Incidental expenses for travel to any location is currently $5 per day."
Former NASA astronaut Cady Coleman spoke to Washingtonian and revealed she received 'around $4 a day' for incidentals - based on her 159-day mission in 2010-11 where she received approximately $636 in incidental pay.
Wilmore's daughter has also since come forward taking to TikTok claiming her dad is set to receive $5 extra a day - totaling $1,430 - added onto a rough salary of around '$152,258.00 Per year' if NASA's website is anything to go by.
And Trump has since addressed Williams and Wilmore's lack of overtime pay, telling reporters during a press hearing earlier today (March 21) it was the first he'd heard of the astronauts not being paid overtime and if he 'ha[s] to' he'll 'pay it out of [his] own pocket'.
He said: "Nobody's ever mentioned this to me. If I have to, I'll pay it out of my own pocket.
"I'll take care of it."
Trump had previously ordered Elon Musk to 'go get' Wilmore and Williams, who he'd claimed had been 'abandoned in space by the Biden Administration'.
"They have been waiting for many months on Space Station. Elon will soon be on his way. Hopefully, all will be safe. Good luck Elon!!!" he concluded his Truth Social post.