Airports across the country are now experiencing an increase in delays and cancellations. Amid the growing tension, President Trump is taking a dig at air traffic controllers for refusing to work without pay, due to the government shutdown. This is the longest ongoing government shutdown America is experiencing, which has led many employees to work without proper pay.
“All Air Traffic Controllers must get back to work, NOW!!! Anyone who doesn’t will be substantially ‘docked,'” the president threatened in a lengthy rant on his Truth Social page on Monday.
“For those Air Traffic Controllers who were GREAT PATRIOTS, and didn’t take ANY TIME OFF for the ‘Democrat Shutdown Hoax,’ I will be recommending a BONUS of $10,000 per person for distinguished service to our Country,” he continued. “For those that did nothing but complain, and took time off, even though everyone knew they would be paid, IN FULL, shortly into the future, I am NOT HAPPY WITH YOU.”
🚨 JUST IN: President Trump DOUBLES DOWN — promises to give $10,000 bonuses to Air Traffic Controllers who didn’t call out “sick” during the shutdown
Good. They deserve it.
“I’ll get [the money] from someplace.”
Don’t bet against 47. He’ll make it happen. pic.twitter.com/jo2ZbCBgGt
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) November 11, 2025
“You didn’t step up to help the U.S.A. against the FAKE DEMOCRAT ATTACK that was only meant to hurt our Country. You will have a negative mark, at least in my mind, against your record. If you want to leave service in the near future, please do not hesitate to do so, with NO payment or severance of any kind! You will be quickly replaced by true Patriots, who will do a better job on the Brand New State-of-the-Art Equipment, the best in the World, that we are in the process of ordering.”
Trump ended his tenuous post with another promise to pay, saying, “Again, to our great American Patriots, GOD BLESS YOU – I won’t be able to send your money fast enough! To all others, REPORT TO WORK IMMEDIATELY. GOD BLESS AMERICA!”
Trump’s Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, announced last week that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was taking immediate action to reduce flights by 10 percent at 40 high-traffic airports across the country. This includes Los Angeles International, Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson, Chicago Midway, New York’s John F. Kennedy International, and more.
🚨 BREAKING: President Trump just announced a $10,000 BONUS for Air Traffic Controllers who stayed on the job during the shutdown — and blasted those who didn’t.
“To our great American patriots — I won’t be able to send your money fast enough. To all others, REPORT TO WORK… pic.twitter.com/euIr8kzPn3
— ⁿᵉʷˢ Barron Trump 🇺🇸 (@BarronTNews_) November 10, 2025
“My department has many responsibilities, but our number one job is safety. This isn’t about politics – it’s about assessing the data and alleviating building risk in the system as controllers continue to work without pay,” Duffy said in the announcement. “It’s safe to fly today, and it will continue to be safe to fly next week because of the proactive actions we are taking.”
Due to a deadlock between Republicans and Democrats in Congress over Affordable Care Act subsidies, the government shutdown became the longest on record on November 5.
Government employees across the country, including military personnel, have been impacted by the shutdown, forcing emergency measures to maintain funding for initiatives like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which helps low-income families with grocery expenses.
President Trump lashed out at air traffic controllers who have called out of work amid the government shutdown, recommending a $10,000 bonus for those workers who kept working without pay.
Michael McCormick, a professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, weighs in. pic.twitter.com/dEfLD5lh5D
— ABC News Live (@ABCNewsLive) November 10, 2025
Airport delays and cancellations have become yet another devastating effect of the legislative deadlock as the two largest travel holidays of the year draw near.
“It’s only going to get worse,” Duffy said in an interview with CNN over the weekend. “I look to the two weeks before Thanksgiving, you’re going to see air travel be reduced to a trickle.”
“This is not political, this is strictly safety,” he claimed, though he immediately added, “I’m doing what I can in a mess that Democrats have put in my lap. And now I’m trying to keep the American people safe and keep airplanes flying.”
