Trump Demands Air Traffic Controllers Return to Work Amid Shutdown Chaos

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday demanded that air traffic controllers return to work as flight cancellations and delays continued to plague travelers during the prolonged government shutdown. The aviation system has been under heavy strain as controllers, working without pay, increasingly miss shifts due to financial hardship or family obligations.

According to an airline trade group, over 1.2 million passengers faced delays or cancellations over the weekend. In a fiery social media post, Trump threatened to cut pay for absent controllers while promising $10,000 bonuses to those who remained on duty throughout the 41-day shutdown. He urged, “All Air Traffic Controllers must get back to work, NOW!!! REPORT TO WORK IMMEDIATELY.”

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has long struggled with staffing shortages, operating 3,500 controllers below target levels. During the shutdown, absences have surged to as high as 40% at major airports. On Monday, the FAA reported staffing issues at nearly two dozen facilities, forcing ground stops and delays at airports including Houston, New York, Chicago, Phoenix, and Las Vegas. More than 2,250 flights were canceled and 8,100 delayed that day, marking one of the worst disruptions since the shutdown began on October 1.

Airlines, including American, Delta, and United, saw their shares drop following Trump’s comments. The FAA has ordered airlines to cut 4% of flights at 40 major airports, rising to 10% by Friday. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed 81 control centers were short-staffed over the weekend.

Industry leaders and lawmakers have urged an immediate end to the shutdown. Southwest Airlines CEO Bob Jordan called the situation “unacceptable,” while Representative Rick Larsen criticized Trump’s remarks, emphasizing that controllers “deserve appreciation, not attacks.”