After going over a month without a paycheck, many air traffic controllers and other critical travel personnel reportedly began calling in sick, or taking other jobs to earn money. Now, they may soon regret that.
Others, however, have toughed it out and continued to show up for work during the entire shutdown, despite not knowing when their next paycheck would finally come.
Monday morning, President Donald Trump suggested that the air traffic controllers who stayed on the job would be rewarded with a very nice bonus.
In a statement on Truth Social, Trump wrote:
All Air Traffic Controllers must get back to work, NOW!!! Anyone who doesn’t will be substantially “docked.” 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.
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.
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.
The last “Administration” wasted Billions of Dollars trying to fix antiquated “junk.” They had no idea what they were doing! 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! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced Sunday morning, “Before the shutdown, an average of 4 controllers retired a day. That number has now jumped to 15 to 20 a day.
“It’s pretty simple — when Democrats vote 14 times against controllers getting paid, it’s hard to convince them to stay in the profession. End the shutdown NOW.”
Before the shutdown, an average of 4 controllers retired a day.
That number has now jumped to 15 to 20 a day.
It’s pretty simple — when Democrats vote 14 times against controllers getting paid, it’s hard to convince them to stay in the profession.
End the shutdown NOW. pic.twitter.com/7MpQhPnFIO
— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) November 9, 2025
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