Trump Is Bullying Air Traffic Controllers to Get Back to Work While They’re Still Going Unpaid

Air traffic controllers aren’t being paid right now, forcing many to call out sick as they scramble to scrape together enough money from second jobs to feed their families. But President Donald Trump is not happy about it, given all the delays that are happening at the nation’s airports. And the president seems convinced he can just bully his way into getting air traffic controllers to keep working for no pay.

“All Air Traffic Controllers must get back to work, NOW!!! Anyone who doesn’t will be substantially ‘docked,’†Trump wrote on Truth Social Monday morning.

Trump went on to claim that air traffic controllers who were “GREAT PATRIOTS†and “didn’t take ANY TIME OFF,†will potentially be getting a bonus of $10,000. To be more precise, Trump said he would be “recommending†a bonus, which doesn’t mean that anyone is going to be getting that.

Trump referred to the government shutdown, which is currently on its 41st day, as the “Democrat Shutdown Hoax.†The U.S. Senate made movement on Sunday toward ending the shutdown, with eight Democrats voting in an early procedural step to push forward a final vote, but ending the shutdown still faces several hurdles, including passage in the House. Democrats got no real concessions, despite originally claiming they wanted to make Republicans extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits.

Trump stressed that he was disappointed in the air traffic controllers who had not been showing up for work. They were supposed to be paid last Tuesday, but received notices that they were getting $0, forcing many to work jobs like driving for Uber and DoorDash.

“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,†Trump continued.

Trump went on to say that if the air traffic controllers wanted to “leave service in the near future,†they shouldn’t hesitate to do so, but they would be getting no payment or severance. Trump’s use of the phrase “near future†is interesting because he’s clearly aware that telling people to quit immediately is the opposite of what he wants.

The president is essentially telling people who he views as disloyal to come back temporarily and then quit when it’s convenient for him. But even then, there’s currently a shortage of somewhere between 2,000 and 3,000 air traffic controllers, according to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. And losing anybody would be devastating to the goal of getting more trained and hired, even if the government shutdown ends soon.

More than 2,600 flights were cancelled Sunday, and at least 1,400 flights have been cancelled already on Monday, roughly 5.5% of all flights nationwide, according to USA Today. That’s more than the 4% ordered by the FAA as the agency phases in more cancellations that are expected to reach 10% this week. Not all of those cancellations are a result of the FAA-mandated slowdown, with some winter weather in the Chicago area also disrupting flights.

Duffy appeared on CNN on Sunday to stress that there are real dangers from being short-staffed, including incidents where they’re having “loss of separation in the airspace,†another way of saying that planes are flying too close together.

The president also claimed on Monday that his administration was getting new equipment for air traffic controllers, something he characterized as being in process.

“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!†wrote Trump.

“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.â€

It remains to be seen how Trump’s bullying will go over with air traffic controllers, who are already exhausted from trying to feed their families, taking second jobs, and doing their best during incredibly difficult times.

“I’m broken down. I’m sore. I’m mentally drained,†one controller based in the southeast U.S. told the New York Times. That air traffic controller said they had been using all of their free time hanging Christmas lights to earn extra money.

“There’s some times where I felt like just going into the corner and crying because it’s been pretty tough to push through the physical pain, the tiredness and waking up the next day having to do it all over again,†the controller said.