President Donald Trump lashed out Monday at air traffic controllers who have missed work during the ongoing government shutdown, warning they would be replaced by “true Patriots.”
“All Air Traffic Controllers must get back to work, NOW!” Trump wrote on Truth Social, pledging $10,000 bonuses for those who continued working through the funding lapse.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy echoed Trump’s call for controllers to report for duty but acknowledged the “real economic problems” faced by unpaid staff.
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg sharply criticised Trump’s comments, saying the president “wouldn’t last five minutes as an air traffic controller.”
Democrats, including Rep. Rick Larsen, denounced the remarks as “unhinged attacks” on essential workers who “deserve thanks and appreciation.”
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) confirmed that controllers have continued reporting for duty despite severe financial strain, urging Congress to end the funding impasse.
The FAA, which faces a shortage of nearly 3,900 certified controllers, has ordered a 10% reduction in flights at major airports to ease fatigue and maintain safety standards.
A Senate deal could end the shutdown later this week, though union leaders warn that restoring normal operations — and back pay — could take months.