Ankara: US President Donald Trump on Monday urged air traffic controllers to return to work immediately during the government shutdown or face having their pay cut. Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to issue a stern warning, stating, "All air traffic controllers must get back to work, now! Anyone who doesn't will be substantially 'docked'." Currently, the controllers are not receiving any pay due to the ongoing shutdown, although they are expected to receive back pay once it concludes.
According to Anadolu Agency, Trump continued to attribute the shutdown to the actions of the Democrats, announcing bonuses for those controllers he considered "great patriots" who remained on duty throughout the "Democrat shutdown hoax". He promised to recommend "$10,000 per person for distinguished service to our country." Trump expressed dissatisfaction with controllers who took time off, stating, "I am not happy with you. You didn't step up to help the USA against the fake Democrat attack."
He further warned that a "negative mark" would be placed on the records of those who took leave and encouraged those wishing to quit to do so without expecting any payment or severance, assuring that they would be "quickly replaced by true patriots."
This directive follows severe air traffic disruptions on Sunday, where over 3,400 flights were canceled and more than 26,800 were delayed, as reported by FlightAware. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy cautioned that the situation "will only get worse" and may affect the upcoming holiday season, which begins later this month. Duffy highlighted that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is operating with a shortage of 1,000-2,000 controllers, with 15-20 retiring each day.
In response to the crisis, the FAA issued an emergency order to reduce flight volume in an effort to alleviate the burden on the overworked controllers. Meanwhile, the US Senate made progress on Sunday by voting 60-40 to break a Democratic filibuster and advance legislation to fund the government, marking a significant step towards ending the five-week shutdown. However, Trump and the Republican leadership have remained firm in their stance, refusing to enter negotiations for a resolution.