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President Donald Trump took to his Truth Social platform on Monday to criticize air traffic controllers who have been calling out of work as the record-breaking government shutdown entered its 41st day, leaving thousands of federal employees without pay and the nation’s air travel system under increasing strain.
Trump demanded that controllers “get back to work, NOW,” even as they continue to work without pay amid mounting financial hardship. The president also threatened to dock back pay from those who call in sick, while vowing to reward those who continue working by recommending a $10,000 bonus once the shutdown ends.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently ordered airlines to reduce flight schedules by up to 10% across 40 major airports nationwide to ease pressure on the overworked air traffic control system. However, industry analysts and labor representatives warn that the move may have been counterproductive, suggesting it could give struggling controllers the impression that absences won’t significantly disrupt operations.
Data from FlightAware showed that airlines faced 1,839 cancellations and more than 5,300 delays across the United States today. Those figures followed a difficult weekend for travelers, when more than 11,000 flight delays and nearly 3,000 cancellations were recorded.
The FAA has been operating with a critical staffing shortage for several years, but the ongoing shutdown has pushed the system to its breaking point. Controllers are now missing their second full paycheck, with some taking on second jobs or relying on food banks and community donations from airports and airlines just to stay afloat.
Experts warn that the situation poses a serious safety risk. Many controllers are working long hours while juggling side jobs to cover living expenses, raising concerns about fatigue and diminished performance. Meanwhile, those calling in sick (often out of necessity) further strain already thin ranks. The National Airspace System, one of the most complex in the world, depends on round-the-clock vigilance. As stress and exhaustion mount among controllers, even small lapses could lead to major consequences.
The FAA’s flight reductions are expected to intensify as the shutdown continues, with cascading effects on travelers, airlines, and airport operations. Major hubs, including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), and New York John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK) are seeing longer lines, delayed departures, and reduced on-time performance.
The government shutdown, which began October 1st, has now become the longest in US history and crippled multiple federal agencies while leaving hundreds of thousands of workers unpaid. Despite growing calls from both parties to end the impasse, negotiations in Washington are slowly moving forward.
President Trump also said that a “new air traffic control system” would launch in weeks without giving more context. We’ll see what this brings.
Anthony’s Take: With Thanksgiving travel season approaching, industry leaders warn the situation could quickly escalate into a full-blown crisis if funding isn’t restored soon. For now, America’s skies remain open, but increasingly turbulent.
(Featured Image Credit: Mimadeo and Nice PNG.)
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1 comment
While his stances on things are intended to provoke people, the thing that many people don’t understand about ATCs is that they schedule their vacation and time off based on site seniority and usually in about October for the following calendar year. While I understand working without pay, when they call in “Sick,” it forces their co-workers to add additional stress, additional and longer shifts, and exposes them to more time on each position with shorter mental breaks and less rotation. Experienced ATCs have been through this before and know they will get their full pay yet some call in anyway.