Trump recommends $10,000 bonus to air traffic controllers who didn't call out sick during the shutdown

• Trump sharply criticized air traffic controllers who called in sick during the shutdown.
• He recommended that those who didn't call out be given a $10,000 bonus.
• The president also suggested air traffic controllers would be "docked" for taking time off.

President Donald Trump is not happy with air traffic controllers who called in sick during the government shutdown.

"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," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Monday.

He also said that air traffic controllers who didn't take any time off are "GREAT PATRIOTS" and that he would be "recommending a BONUS of $10,000 per person for distinguished service to our Country."

Trump also said that any air traffic controllers who don't immediately return to work would be substantially "docked," presumably referring to pay.

Air traffic controllers, like hundreds of thousands of other federal workers, have been largely working without pay since the shutdown began on October 1. They received a partial paycheck in October but have since received two $0 paychecks.

Many controllers have called in sick during that time, leading to significant delays and cancellations. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said during CNN's State of the Union on Sunday that there were 81 staffing triggers across the US on Saturday, and that between 18 and 22 controllers in Atlanta "didn't show up."

The controller call-outs have resulted in thousands of flight delays and cancellations since the shutdown began. Disruptions began to worsen on Friday after the government implemented a 10% reduction in flying across 40 major US airports as the Thanksgiving holiday approached.

"You will have a negative mark, at least in my mind, against your record," Trump said of those who took time off. "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!"

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association, the union representing air traffic controllers, said in a statement that the "vast majority" of its members "continue to perform one of the most stressful and demanding jobs in the world, despite not being compensated."

"Many are working six-day weeks and ten-hour days without any pay. These unsung heroes, who report for duty to safely guide this country's passengers and cargo to their destinations, deserve our praise," the union said. "They have certainly earned it. Congress must put an end to this shutdown today. Enough is enough."

Trump: 'Life is not so easy for anybody'

After Trump's Truth Social posts, Duffy echoed the president, writing on X that "air traffic controllers NEED to show up for work." He thanked those who have come to work for their "patriotism."

Trump also doubled down on demanding that air traffic controllers remain at their jobs during an appearance on Fox News's "Ingraham Angle" that aired on Monday evening.

"Look, life is not so easy for anybody," Trump told show host Laura Ingraham. "We should not have had people leaving their jobs."

When Trump was asked where he would get his proposed bonus for air traffic controllers who remained, Trump responded that he didn't know.

"I always get the money from some place, regardless," Trump added. "It doesn't matter."

Earlier on Monday, House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed sympathy for air traffic controllers who've continued working without pay.

"The problem we have with air travel is that our air traffic controllers are overworked and unpaid, and many of them have called in sick," Johnson told reporters at a press conference. "It's a very stressful job, and even more stressful exponentially when they're having trouble providing for their families."

Washington, D.C.-based controller Pete LeFevre previously told Business Insider that some controllers were looking to gig work to make ends meet during the shutdown.