Trump Administration Threatens Sanctions for Absences During Government Shutdown

• Sean Duffy Threatens Labor Sanctions
• Shutdown Disrupts Air Traffic Control
• Senate Seeks to Reopen the Government

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy warned on Tuesday that he will take “action” against air traffic controllers who have failed to report for duty due to the lack of pay caused by the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.

During a press conference at the Chicago airport, Duffy expressed concern over the repeated absences of key workers within the national air traffic system, according to the EFE agency.

Duffy Threatens Air Traffic Controllers with Sanctions Over Absences During Shutdown

The Trump administration threatens ‘action’ against air traffic controllers who are absent. https://t.co/wBW4ssWcgv

— AlbertoRodNews (@AlbertoRodNews) November 11, 2025

“I’m concerned about their dedication. I’m concerned about their patriotism. We haven’t made a decision yet, but we’re going to review those controllers who repeatedly decided not to show up for work,” the secretary stated.

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The warning came a day after President Donald Trump announced sanctions for employees not performing their duties and a plan to grant $10,000 bonuses to those who continue working despite the government shutdown.

Impact of the Shutdown on Air Transportation

The federal government shutdown, now in its 42nd day, has directly impacted the U.S. air transportation system.

Thousands of air traffic controllers have stopped reporting for duty, citing health reasons and the lack of pay.

The staffing shortage has forced the Trump administration to reduce air traffic by 10% across the 40 largest airports in the country.

This measure has caused a wave of delays and cancellations, affecting both airlines and passengers at a time of increased travel demand ahead of the Thanksgiving holidays.

According to official data, more than 1,200 planes remained grounded on Tuesday, while another 3,200 experienced significant delays.

The situation has created growing concern among travelers, who fear worsening chaos in the coming weeks if the shutdown continues.

Hopes Rise for Government Reopening

During the same press conference, Duffy noted that control towers showed a slight improvement in staffing levels on Tuesday.

He explained that many controllers “see the end of the shutdown approaching and feel more optimistic” following recent Senate progress toward a resolution that could reopen the federal government.

On Monday, a group of rebel Democrats joined Republicans to approve a budget extension aimed at restoring government operations.

The proposal must now pass the House of Representatives and be signed by President Trump.

Meanwhile, the Transportation Secretary said he will continue efforts to hire more air traffic controllers, though he emphasized that disciplinary measures will be taken against those who “systematically fail to fulfill their duties.”

“I’m trying to hire more air traffic controllers, not get rid of them,” Duffy reiterated. “But if we have controllers who systematically aren’t doing their job, we will take action.”