US airlines are not happy at the $25 billion financial aid offered by the treasury department, claiming they are victims of a classic bait and switch scheme, because they will have to repay 30% of any grant money received within the next five years. The airlines claim that was not part of the expected deal.

“We believe the law indicated that the Direct Payroll Assistance funding was to be only in grants – which is considerably more effective for our employees – and not a combination of grants and loans,” said the trade group Airlines for America.

Airline unions were also unhappy with the situation.

“Secretary Mnuchin owes the more than two million workers supported by the aviation industry an explanation,” Julie Hedrick, national president of the Association for Professional Flight Attendants.

The administration says airlines were informed any hand-out could have strings attached. Small regional carriers are exempt from paying back loans.

“The bipartisan law specifically states that the Secretary may receive warrants, options, debt securities, or other financial instruments to provide compensation for American taxpayers,” said Brent McIntosh, undersecretary of Treasury’s international affairs unit.

Under the terms, airlines that accept grants may not lay off workers until at least September 30.

“It is our objective to make sure, as I have said, that this is not a bailout, but to make sure that airlines have the liquidity to keep their workers in place,” treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin told CNBC.

Airlines are hoping to renegotiate the terms but they likely won’t have any support from consumers, if they continue using job lay-offs as a bargaining chip.

United, American, Southwest Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways and Alaska Air – the top six US carriers – paid out US $27 billion last year in salary and benefits, according to the US Bureau of Transportation Statistics.