November 10, 2025

Trump threatens unpaid controllers while dangling $10,000 bonus for those who never called out

Trump threatens unpaid workers while promising bonuses he can't deliver without Congress

On Nov.ย 10,ย 2025, President Donald Trump ordered all air traffic controllers back to work on Truth Social and promised a $10,000 bonus for anyone who "didn't take ANY TIME OFF" during the 43-day shutdown.

He also threatened to "substantially dock" controllers who had already missed unpaid shifts, even though federal law guarantees them back pay.

The offer lacks congressional funding and turns critical safety work into a loyalty test for the executive branch.

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