Trump tells air traffic controllers to ‘get back to work, NOW,’ urges $10,000 bonus for some
President Donald Trump on Monday lashed out at air traffic controllers who have called out of work amid the government shutdown, as he recommended a $10,000 bonus for those workers who kept working without pay.
“All Air Traffic Controllers must get back to work, NOW!!!” Trump wrote. “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.”
President Donald Trump attends a dinner with Central Asian leaders in the East Room of the White House in Washington, November 5, 2025.
Aaron Schwartz/EPA/Shutterstock
The president went on to call for workers who took time off to leave the profession “with NO payment or severance of any kind”
“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!” Trump wrote. “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.”