Demand to air traffic controllers

Transportation chief agrees with Trump's demand to air traffic controllers, while his predecessor slams it

From CNN's Chris Boyette

It was a case of dueling transportation secretaries Monday, after President Donald Trump this morning demanded that all air traffic controllers “get back to work, NOW,” pledging to punish those who don’t and reward those who have worked without pay through the record-long government shutdown.

The secretary of the Department of Transportation, Sean Duffy, posted on social media that he agreed with his boss that air traffic controllers need to go to work, focusing on the president’s comments on providing financial bonuses as a reward.

“To those who have worked throughout the shutdown — thank you for your patriotism and commitment to keeping our skies safe,” Duffy said. “I will work with Congress to reward your commitment.”

Meanwhile, Pete Buttigieg — Duffy’s predecessor who served under President Joe Biden — focused on Trump’s threats to air traffic control workers.

“The President wouldn’t last five minutes as an air traffic controller,” Buttigieg posted. “And after everything they’ve been through - and the way this administration has treated them from Day One - he has no business sh*tting on them now.”

Some context: After the worst weekend for air traffic control staffing since the shutdown began, delays due to staffing problems were already reported Monday morning, despite a potential deal to end the government shutdown.

Air traffic controllers, like other “excepted” federal workers such as federal police and civilian military employees, are required to work through the government shutdown despite not being paid.