WASHINGTON — President Trump on Monday demanded all US air-traffic controllers return to work — and offered a $10,000 bonus to those who have stayed on the job without getting paid during the government shutdown.
The shutdown, which began Oct. 1 and is now the longest in history, has meant 13,000 controllers and 50,000 TSA agents, as well as more than a million other government workers, haven’t been paid for more than a month, leaving at least some federal employees to call out sick, take vacation or otherwise not show up to their job.
“All Air Traffic Controllers must get back to work, NOW!!! Anyone who doesn’t will be substantially ‘docked’,” Trump raged on social media.
He went on to offer a bonus of $10,000 to controllers who worked unpaid during the shutdown, describing them as “great patriots.
“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,” Trump said.
Officials said it is unclear under the controllers’ union contract how they could be docked or what the source of the $10,000 bonus Trump promised.
An air-traffic controller who spoke to The Post on condition of anonymity said they and their colleagues are torn between their sense of duty and the lack of compensation.
“The personal strain on controllers should concern every American who cares about safe skies and travel,” the insider said. “We’re overworked, fatigued, stressed, scared of job consequences — and if that’s not bad enough, we also haven’t been getting paid.
“It’s already a high-pressure job even without all of these added pressures and stressors. This is a mitigated risk where all boundaries are being pushed to the limits.
“If we can’t pay for gas nor child care, how are we supposed to go to work?” the source said. “Not everyone lives in a double income household with a built-in safety net.”
Another air controller said that while workers are undoubtedly stressed, travel in the skies remains safe.
“We all take safety very seriously and wouldn’t be showing up every day if we didn’t truly believe we were keeping people safe,” the source said.
National Air Traffic Controllers Association President Nick Daniels said controllers deserve to be paid during the shutdown and that the union will work through any related issues with the administration.
“I’ll take anything that recognizes these hard-working men and women, but we’ll work with the administration on any issues that are out there,” Daniels told reporters in response to Trump’s online post about the bonus.
“Air-traffic controllers have continued to show up during this shutdown. They’ve endured the longest shutdown in American history, and every single day, they absolutely, not only deserve their pay, they deserve to be recognized for what’s going on.”
But another controller told The Post the stress of the situation is starting to show in the control tower he’s based in.
“No one knows when their next pay is coming in after weeks of no answers and uncertainty,” the source said.
“It’s a big problem for everyone who now has overdue payments, families to provide for and other financial responsibilities.”
Airlines canceled 1,780 US flights Monday, and there were also 5,014 delays for flights within, into or out of the country, according to airline traffic tracker FlightAware. The situation is expected to worsen this week.
The FAA has instructed airlines to cut 4% of their daily flights starting last week at 40 major airports based on air-traffic-control safety concerns caused by staffing issues amid the shutdown. Reductions in flights are mandated to reach 6% on Tuesday and then hit 10% on Friday.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has said he first wants to see air-traffic-control staffing and safety data improve before the government-required flight cuts are lifted.
The Senate took the first step toward ending the shutdown Sunday evening, with Congress set to take final votes on reopening the government later this week.
