Port Authority payroll hits $1.2B as 20 workers — 17 of them cops — rake in $400K annually

Nypost · Aug 08, 2026 · 598 words · By Rich Calder

Government Waste Taxpayer Burden Public Sector Compensation

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What to know about Government Waste

Port Authority payroll hits $1.2B as 20 workers — 17 of them cops — rake in $400K annually See more of our coverage in your search results.

Claims checked 20

Techniques found 2

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center0%

Right100%

1 source compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Port Authority payroll hits $1.2B as 20 workers — 17 of them cops — rake in $400K annually See more of our coverage in your search results.

Why it matters

Add The New York Post on Google Twenty Port Authority workers — including 17 cops — pocketed $400,000 last year as the bistate agency’s payroll topped $1.2 billion, records show.

Common ground

Eight of the bloated agency’s top earners collected more than $200,000 in overtime pay, records show.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Name Calling / Labeling: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Government Waste story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that The average pay for the PA’s 8,356 workers in 2025 rose 3% from the previous year, to $144,033?
How does this story connect Government Waste with Taxpayer Burden over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/08/08/us-news/20-port-authority-workers-made-over-400k-l…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 2 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 90% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Name Calling / Labeling 80% confidence

Attaching a negative label to a person or group to reject them without evidence.

Why it matters: Recognizing name calling / labeling helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 20 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

schedule Pending 10

verified Verified By Reference 4

info Single Source 3

help Insufficient Evidence 2

check_circle Corroborated 1

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Claim 1: “The average pay for the PA’s 8,356 workers in 2025 rose 3% from the previous year, to $144,033”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info

Claim 2: “Eight of the bloated agency’s top earners collected more than $200,000 in overtime pay”

SINGLE SOURCE

One source (nj.com) mentions that 65 employees received more than $200,000 in salary and additional pay, and eight police officers earned more than $100,000 in overtime, but it does not explicitly confirm that exactly eight top earners collected more than $200,000 in overtime specifically. Other sources discuss LIRR or Ohio transit workers, which are irrelevant.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department, or Port Authority Police Department (PAPD), is a law enforcement agency in New York and New Jersey, the duties of which are to protect …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Authority_of_New_York_and…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Port Football Club (Thai: สโมสรฟุตบอลการท่าเรือ), also known as Thai Port (formerly known as Port Authority of Thailand Football Club after its namesake owner), is a Thai professional football club ba…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_F.C.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) is a parastatal public corporation acting under the aegis of the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, that has the responsibility "to manage and operate" the ocean po…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanzania_Ports_Authority

+ 3 more evidence sources

check_circle

Claim 3: “they earn $131,703 in base pay after 10 years on the job”

CORROBORATED

Two independent web sources confirm the base pay ceiling after ten years is approximately $131,703. One source explicitly mentions 'Join PAPD with a top salary of $131,703+' and another states 'If you stick around for ten years, your base pay hits a ceiling of roughly $131,703'.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Some Austin police officers earned $300K+ last year by working massive overtime hours, according to a Statesman analysis.Authority Police Officer: Now Recruiting!. Join PAPD with a top salary of $131,…
https://www.tiktok.com/discover/highest-paying-police-jobs

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — After just one year, it jumps to over $61,000. If you stick around for ten years, your base pay hits a ceiling of roughly $131,703. And remember, that’s before you add in holiday pay, uniform allowanc…
https://idigitais.com.br/ny-nj-port-authority-salaries-why-s…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The average salary for a Police Officer is $65,945 per year in United States.
https://www.indeed.com/career/police-officer/salaries

schedule

Claim 4: “average [police] overtime declined 9% from 2024 to 2025”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 5: “5,711 staff members — or 68% — earned overtime last year, bringing OT spending to $196 million, or 16% of total payroll”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 6: “The 1,968 members of the Port Authority Police averaged $184,949 in pay last year”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

verified

Claim 7: “PA officers’ starting salary of $46,954”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

The evidence provides general US police salary averages and general info about the PAPD, but does not state the specific starting salary of $46,954.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Port Authority Bus Terminal (colloquially known as the Port Authority and by its acronym PABT) is a bus terminal located in Manhattan in New York City. It is the busiest bus terminal in the world …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Authority_Bus_Terminal

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ or simply the Port Authority) is a joint venture between the U.S. states of New York and New Jersey, established in 1921 through an interstate com…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Authority_of_New_York_and…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — A port authority (less commonly a port district) is a governmental or quasi-governmental public authority for a special-purpose district usually formed by a legislative body (or bodies) to operate por…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_authority

+ 3 more evidence sources

schedule

Claim 8: “The PA’s cops racked up $85 million — or 43% of all OT”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

verified

Claim 9: “Twenty Port Authority workers — including 17 cops — pocketed $400,000 last year”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

The provided evidence consists of general definitions of the number 20 and general descriptions of various Port Authorities, but contains no data regarding employee earnings or the specific number of workers pocketing $400,000.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA), officially the Delaware River Port Authority of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, is a bi-state agency instrumentality created by a congressionally approved inters…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delaware_River_Port_Authority

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) is a statutory board under the Ministry of Transport of the Government of Singapore.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maritime_and_Port_Authority_of…

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+ 3 more evidence sources

schedule

Claim 10: “In May, it hiked PATH train fares by a quarter, to $3.25”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 11: “The Port Authority in January raised its bridge and tunnel tolls by 3% while phasing out off-peak discounts to EZ Pass users”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info

Claim 12: “Police Lt. Nicholas Federico, whose base salary of $180,691 was dwarfed by his $215,717 in OT. He made $466,775 for the year, include fringe benefits.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided evidence for this claim consists of a battery review and a salary calculator; there is no mention of Police Lt. Nicholas Federico or his specific earnings.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Bluetti offered to send me the AC180 to review. I have been testing various batteries to see what all the rage is surrounding these portable battery solutions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hU6Nfc6si4I

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — A free calculator to convert a salary between its hourly, biweekly, monthly, and annual amounts. Adjustments are made for holiday and vacation days.
https://www.calculator.net/salary-calculator.html

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Compare average salaries by state and see how location, occupation and gender shape earnings across the U.S.
https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/average-salary-by-st…

verified

Claim 13: “helping drive the bi-state agency’s 2025 payroll up 5% from the previous year”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

While one source mentions a '2025 EWR Fly Quiet Program', there is no evidence regarding the 2025 payroll figures or a 5% increase.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) is the port authority for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It owns and operates three airports, Logan International Airport, Hanscom Field, and Worcester Regi…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts_Port_Authority

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Saudi Ports Authority (MAWANI) (Arabic: الهيئة العامة للموانئ) is a government agency that supervises the ports of Saudi Arabia. It was founded in 1976 as an independent agency of the Prime Minister'…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Ports_Authority

+ 3 more evidence sources

info

Claim 14: “the bistate agency’s payroll topped $1.2 billion”

SINGLE SOURCE

The search results mention the Port Authority of NY and NJ and other ports, but none provide the total payroll figure or confirm it topped $1.2 billion.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — - Ships in the public port.Panoramic view of the port.
http://www.portodesantos.com.br/en/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Видео автора «Зелел OfficialZelel» в Дзене: Это Roblox The Doors 2 Шахты румс (Двери дорс, дурс Роблокс) 2024 игра Залетай в Телеграм: https://t.me/zelelgames Лайк: https://likee.onelink.
https://dzen.ru/video/watch/66dac729f97c4322dcb0f1d6

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The Port Authority keeps travelers informed through airport alerts and advisories.Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is proud to announce the winners of the 2025 EWR Fly Quiet Program.
https://www.newarkairport.com/

help

Claim 15: “Robert Zafonte Jr., who made $448,601, including $139,193 in OT”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found for this claim in the provided search results.

schedule

Claim 16: “Richard Cotton — the PA’s executive director last year before retiring in January — saw his $327,918 salary surpassed by 94 underlings”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

help

Claim 17: “Dewan Maharaj, who took in $448,612, including $147,937 in overtime”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found for this claim in the provided search results.

verified

Claim 18: “323 workers collected six figures in overtime — including 189 Port Authority cops”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

The evidence mentions 65 employees receiving over $200,000 total and 8 officers earning over $100,000 in OT, but there is no mention of 323 workers or 189 cops collecting six figures in overtime.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2015–16 National One Day Cup was the thirty-first edition of the National One Day Championship, the premier List A cricket domestic competition in Pakistan. It was held from 10 to 29 January 2016.…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015–16_National_One_Day_Cup

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — In classical antiquity, the Hellenistic period covers the time in Greek, Eastern Mediterranean and Middle Eastern history following Classical Greece, between the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellenistic_period

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian and Pacific oceans. Comprising between 13,000 and 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Jav…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesia

+ 3 more evidence sources

schedule

Claim 19: “Of the top 100 earners, 68 worked in the Police Department and 18 worked in the Aviation Department”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 20: “Reginald Bowers, a chief maintenance supervisor, collected the agency’s largest overtime haul — $231,916 — boosting his total compensation to $421,041”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.