President Trump reprimanded air traffic controllers who were not paid and were absent during the shutdown. But he proposed giving $10,000 bonuses to essential workers who continued to report to work.
President Trump orders air traffic controllers to return to work during shutdown
President Donald Trump has called for air traffic controllers to return to work and is proposing a $10,000 bonus for loyal employees.
President Donald Trump threatened to cut pay for air traffic controllers who don’t report to work after the Senate reached a compromise to end the 41-day government shutdown.
“All air traffic controllers must get back to work now!!!” President Trump said on social media on November 10. “Those who don’t will be effectively ‘grounded’.”
The Senate bill, introduced on Nov. 9, would provide temporary funding to the government through Jan. 30 to provide back pay to federal employees affected by the government shutdown. But the House and Senate still need to vote on the bill, which could take several more days.
Air traffic controllers continued to work without pay as essential personnel during the grounding. But the Federal Aviation Administration ordered airlines to cancel 4% of their flights over the weekend because some people were unable to come because they were looking for other jobs to make ends meet amid the gridlock in Congress. More than 10,000 flights were delayed on November 9th.
President Trump called on air traffic controllers who do not report to work to resign. He promised to recommend $10,000 bonuses to air traffic controllers who kept their jobs.
“I recommend that the air traffic controllers, who are great patriots and did not take any time off because of the ‘Democrat Shutdown Hoax,’ be given a $10,000 bonus each for their service to our country,” Trump said. “For those of you who complained and took time off even though we all knew you would be paid your full salary in the near future, I’m not happy with you.”
