Federal Workers Received Whopping $439 Million In Bonuses Last Year

Nearly a quarter of a million dollars. That's how much a U.S. Department of Agriculture employee was paid last year under a presidential program that recognizes exceptional performance on the job.

The government worker, a veterinarian, was paid $179,700 in base salary and given a $62,895 "service bonus" for distinguished performance, according to a database recently created to track the salaries of more than 1 million government workers. The well-paid employee was one of three federal workers to receive such a generous bonus, which is equal to 35 percent of base pay, according to the database, developed by the Asbury Park Press of New Jersey (via KUSA).