Trump Floats Plan To Reward Air Traffic Controllers Who Didn’t Take Time Off Due To Shutdown

President Donald Trump floated a potential plan to reward air traffic controllers who have not taken time off despite having their pay frozen due to the government shutdown, suggesting that he could pay them a bonus of up to $10,000 for continuing to show up even when they were not getting paid.

Trump delivered the offer in a post from his Truth Social account on Monday, just hours after eight Democrats in the Senate voted with Republicans to break the filibuster and move toward an end to the longest government shutdown in American history.

BREAKING: @realDonaldTrump says he will recommend 10K bonuses to air traffic controllers who didn’t take time off during the “Democrat Shutdown Hoax.”@realDailyWire pic.twitter.com/24VyL2iCY4

— Amber Jo Cooper (@AmberJoCooper) November 10, 2025

“All Air Traffic Controllers must get back to work, NOW!!! Anyone who doesn’t will be substantially ‘docked,'” Trump posted. “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,” the president continued. “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.”

Trump took his message a step further, taking a swipe at former President Joe Biden’s administration and adding, “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!” he concluded. “To all others, REPORT TO WORK IMMEDIATELY. GOD BLESS AMERICA!”