On Monday, President Trump took to his Truth Social platform to issue a pretty stern demand: With the Schumer Shutdown nearing what seems to be a negotiated end, the president is ordering all air traffic controllers back to work - immediately.
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) November 10, 2025
The president writes:
All Air Traffic Controllers must get back to work, NOW!!! 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. against the FAKE DEMOCRAT ATTACK that was only meant to hurt our Country. 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! 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. The last “Administration” wasted Billions of Dollars trying to fix antiquated “junk.” They had no idea what they were doing! Again, to our great American Patriots, GOD BLESS YOU - I won’t be able to send your money fast enough! To all others, REPORT TO WORK IMMEDIATELY. GOD BLESS AMERICA! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP
It's not clear whether the president can unilaterally order them back to work while the shutdown is still technically in effect. Even so, the president makes a good point about the ATCs who stayed on duty despite the uncertainty. But a majority of air traffic controllers are federal employees, reporting to the Department of Transportation, and so they are an executive branch function - and the president runs the executive branch.
Read More: Watch: Sean Duffy Wrecks Katie Porter With Ideal Response to Her Attack Over Air Travel
This move comes in advance of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday season, which will see a substantial number of Americans taking to the friendly (we hope) skies.
Full disclosure: Due to making our home in Alaska while all of our kids and grandkids live in the lower 48, we only see our grandchildren twice a year, at Thanksgiving and normally again in early summer. If the Schumer shutdown had prevented that, we would have been pretty peeved. Multiply that by millions of holiday travelers.
While the president's tone was harsh, we can understand the sense of urgency. This shutdown and the reduction in working air traffic controllers affected not only travelers but also cargo shipped by air. This is one of the nation's vital systems, and getting it back up to speed is a priority.
It would sure be interesting to know where the money for that promised $10,000 bonus is coming from, though.
Editor’s Note: After more than 40 days of screwing Americans, a few Dems have finally caved. The Schumer Shutdown was never about principle—just inflicting pain for political points.
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