U.S. Government Shutdown Impact Worsens; Trump Orders All Air Traffic Controllers Back to Work!

According to CCTV News, on November 10 local time, Trump posted on his social media platform "Truth Social," stating that all air traffic controllers must return to work immediately, and anyone who does not return will face severe "penalties."

Trump also stated that for those air traffic controllers who did not take leave during the government "shutdown," he would recommend a $10,000 bonus for each person.

Since early October, the U.S. government has been in a shutdown, which has now lasted for 41 full days as of the latest update, setting a record for the longest sustained shutdown in U.S. history. Due to the prolonged government shutdown, a large number of U.S. air traffic controllers have had to work without pay, leading to significant absenteeism in this role.

Air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security personnel are considered essential government workers required to work during a government shutdown. However, with the U.S. government unable to pay salaries, some workers have had to take absences to engage in part-time jobs, as they would otherwise struggle to afford living costs.

The government shutdown has exacerbated the situation, forcing flight capacity cuts at 40 major airports across the United States. Not only have travelers been affected, but cargo transportation speeds have also significantly slowed, impacting supply chains. The previous day, U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent pointed out that holiday shopping could be affected by the government shutdown and the corresponding reduction in air traffic.

Bessent emphasized that the reduction in flight activity has impacted not only travelers but also cargo transportation. He said, "We could end up with shortages, whether in our supply chains or during the holidays. The movement of both goods and people has slowed here."

In the aforementioned post, Trump wrote, "For those air traffic controllers (who continued working), they are great patriots who did not take leave because of the 'Democrat Shutdown Scam.' I recommend giving them each a $10,000 bonus in recognition of their outstanding contribution to our country."