Trump Threatens Pay Cuts for Air Traffic Controllers Amid Shutdown

An additional 2,300 flights were cancelled in the US on Monday as President Donald Trump threatened to dock the pay of air traffic controllers who had called in sick during the ongoing government shutdown.

Trump, who had previously criticised absent aviation workers as “unpatriotic,” found himself in a public spat with the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), the union representing air traffic controllers. In a statement, NATCA praised those members who were continuing to work without pay, calling them “unsung heroes,” and urged Congress to immediately end the shutdown.

“Enough is enough,” the union said in its statement.

The back-and-forth underscored the mounting pressure on the aviation sector, now in the 41st day of a record-breaking government shutdown. While a compromise bill making its way through Congress raised hopes for a resolution later in the week, the air traffic control system was already under significant strain due to pre-existing understaffing issues. This situation has been exacerbated by a surge in passenger numbers ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday travel period.

Alongside Monday’s 2,300 cancellations, more than 8,700 flights were delayed, impacting airports across the country, according to flight tracking website FlightAware. Another 1,100 flights scheduled for Tuesday had already been scrapped.

Last week, the Trump administration had ordered a 10 percent reduction in flights at several major airports due to “staffing triggers,” a consequence of the shutdown.

On Monday, Trump took to social media to threaten air traffic controllers who had not returned to work. “All Air Traffic Controllers must get back to work, NOW!!!” he demanded via his Truth Social platform, adding that those who failed to report would face significant pay cuts.

Trump also proposed a $10,000 bonus for air traffic controllers who had continued to work through the shutdown without taking leave.

His remarks came just as the NATCA concluded a press conference addressing the continued financial hardship faced by its members, many of whom were receiving their second consecutive paycheck of $0.

Union president Nick Daniels called the potential deal emerging in Congress “a step in the right direction,” but said air traffic controllers should not be used as “political pawns” during the shutdown. “These workers have gone more than 40 days without pay. They continue to perform one of the most stressful jobs in the world, working long hours with no compensation,” Daniels said.

Meanwhile, Democratic Congressman Rick Larsen denounced Trump’s comments as “nuts,” stating, “The women and men working long hours in air traffic control towers to keep the aviation system running deserve our thanks and appreciation, not unhinged attacks on their patriotism.”

Later, during a phone interview with Fox News, Trump doubled down on his proposal for bonuses but admitted that he was uncertain where the funds would come from. “I don’t know. I’ll get it from someplace…I always get the money from someplace,” he said, adding, “Regardless, it doesn’t matter.”

Working Two Jobs

Prospects for a resolution to the shutdown seemed brighter on Monday, as enough Democrats in the US Senate joined Republicans to pass a bill that would fund the government through January.

However, Daniels noted that after the lengthy shutdown of 2019, it had taken two and a half months for all controllers to receive back pay. He expressed concern about what would happen once the next spending bill expired on January 30.

At the press event, Daniels was joined by Amy Lark, an air traffic controller at a facility in Virginia, who shared the personal financial strain caused by the shutdown.

“My family is having to make do without two paychecks because my husband also works for the agency,” Lark said. “Yesterday, my kids asked me how long we could stay in our house. Having to answer that question was heartbreaking.”

The shutdown and resulting cutbacks have also affected travellers.

“It’s a little crazy this morning,” said Jack Nicks, a passenger at Miami International Airport, who said he double-checked to make sure his flight was still on track. “I have other friends flying today. They’ve already had three flight changes. So it’s a little rough.”