By Ayomide Otitoju
More than 2,300 U.S. flights were cancelled on Monday as President Donald Trump threatened to dock the pay of air traffic controllers calling in sick during the ongoing government shutdown, now in its 41st day.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) condemned the president’s remarks, calling its members “unsung heroes” for continuing to work without pay and urging Congress to end the shutdown immediately.
“Enough is enough,” the union said in a statement, emphasizing the growing strain on the aviation sector as the prolonged funding standoff disrupts travel nationwide.
The shutdown has exacerbated existing staffing shortages in the air traffic control system, which is struggling to manage an uptick in travel ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. According to FlightAware, more than 8,700 flights involving U.S. airports were delayed on Monday, while airlines have already cancelled 1,100 flights scheduled for Tuesday.
Last week, the Trump administration ordered a 10 percent reduction in flights at several major airports, citing “staffing triggers.”
Trump escalated tensions on Monday, taking to his Truth Social platform to demand that all air traffic controllers “get back to work NOW,” threatening substantial pay deductions for those who remain absent. He also promised $10,000 bonuses to controllers he described as “GREAT PATRIOTS” who continued working through the shutdown.
His comments coincided with a NATCA press conference marking the second consecutive missed paycheck for its members.
“Air traffic controllers should not be political pawns during a government shutdown,” said union president Nick Daniels, who cautiously welcomed signs of progress in Congress, calling a new funding proposal “a step in the right direction.”
In a follow-up statement, NATCA reaffirmed its support for its members, noting that “the vast majority of these highly trained and skilled professionals continue to perform one of the most stressful and demanding jobs in the world, despite not being compensated.”
Democratic Congressman Rick Larsen criticized Trump’s remarks as “nuts,” adding, “The men and women keeping our skies safe deserve appreciation, not attacks on their patriotism.”
During a later phone interview with Fox News, Trump doubled down on his bonus pledge but admitted uncertainty over the source of the funds, saying, “I’ll get it from someplace—I always get the money from someplace.”
Despite the turmoil, hopes for an end to the shutdown rose Monday after bipartisan support in the U.S. Senate pushed forward a bill to fund the government through January.
Still, Daniels warned that after a previous shutdown in 2019, it took more than two months for air traffic controllers to receive back pay.
At the press conference, Virginia-based controller Amy Lark shared the personal toll of the crisis. “Yesterday, my kids asked me how long we could stay in our house. Having to answer that question was heartbreaking,” she said, noting that both she and her husband, also a controller, have gone weeks without pay.
Travelers nationwide are also feeling the impact. “It’s a little crazy this morning,” said passenger Jack Nicks at Miami International Airport. “I’ve had to check twice to make sure my flight’s still on. Some of my friends have had three flight changes already.”
