During the shutdown, some controllers stayed home, and now Trump is making them pay the price

President Trump went after air traffic controllers on Monday who did not show up for work during the government shutdown. He posted on Truth Social demanding they get back to their jobs right away and said there would be penalties for anyone who stayed home.

According to The Hill, Trump’s message showed a big difference in how he sees controllers who kept working and those who did not. He wants to give a $10,000 bonus to workers who showed up even when they were not getting paid. But he had tough words for the ones who took time off.

During the shutdown, some controllers stayed home, and now Trump is making them pay the price. Trump wrote in his post that workers who did not come in “will have a negative mark, at least in my mind, against your record.” He also told them they should think about quitting their jobs, and if they do, they should leave “with NO payment or severance of any kind.”

Trump says controllers let the country down

“All Air Traffic Controllers must get back to work, NOW!!! Anyone who doesn’t will be substantially ‘docked,’” Trump said in his post.

“You didn’t step up to help the U.S.A. against the FAKE DEMOCRAT ATTACK that was only meant to hurt our Country,” he also wrote. “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!”

The shutdown has created major problems for air traffic control across the country. Officials in the Trump administration kept pointing out these issues while workers missed their paychecks. This shutdown has gone on for 41 days now, making it the longest one in history. Trump’s handling of the shutdown has drawn various reactions, with critics questioning his approach to the crisis.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy talked about the money troubles facing these workers. He said most controllers could get by missing one paycheck but would have real problems if they missed two in a row. Duffy said last week that major airports would have fewer flights because there are not enough controllers working.

The Senate voted late Sunday night to move ahead with a plan to end the shutdown. This vote could finally bring an end to the situation that has left government workers without paychecks and hurt important services like air traffic control. Federal workers have expressed frustration with the administration’s actions during this period.