The Trump administration just issued an ultimatum to air traffic controllers skipping shifts during the shutdown.
Report back immediately or face disciplinary action.
Carrot and stick: 70% back pay within 48 hours of reopening, but no excuses for continued absences.
Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy:
"It's time for our air traffic controllers to come back to work. They will receive 70% of their pay within 48 hours. This is a TOP priority to get our airspace back to 100%."
Controllers are exhausted. Airports are chaos.
Safety margins are shrinking.
Duffy's betting a partial paycheck and vague promises beat the threat of termination. The bet's on.
