FACT CHECK: Trump Administration Clarifies Consequences for Absent Air Traffic Controllers

FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL—The media “grossly” misrepresented Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s exhortation to air traffic controllers, a Department of Transportation spokesperson told The Daily Signal.

Politico published a story Thursday headlined “Duffy hints at firing air traffic controller ‘problem children’ amid continuing delays.”

The piece was based on Duffy’s Thursday morning Fox Business interview, in which he said, “If we have some on our staff that aren’t dedicated, we’re going to let them go. Again, I can’t have people not showing up to work.”

The piece “grossly took the secretary’s remarks out of context,” a Transportation Department spokesperson told The Daily Signal.

“As the secretary has repeatedly said, the vast majority of our air traffic controllers are patriots who show up each and every day to keep American families safe in our skies, but if there are rare bad actors that don’t show up purposefully and cause disruptions to our operations, consequences are inevitable,” the spokesperson said.

“Secretary Duffy’s impressive agenda to supercharge air traffic controller hiring remains a top priority for the department,” the spokesperson continued. “Just last month, the department announced surpassing its fiscal year hiring goals, and we’re just getting started.”

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association sent an email to ATCs, obtained by The Daily Signal, emphasizing that not showing up to work can lead to removal from service.

“It is not only illegal, but it also undermines NATCA’s credibility and severely weakens our ability to effectively advocate for you and your families,” the union wrote.

“As you are aware, right now, federal employees are under heightened scrutiny, and as the shutdown continues, all eyes are on us,” the email continued. “We cannot overstate that it is essential to avoid any action that could reflect poorly on you, our union, or our professions.”

Air traffic controllers started working without pay on Monday. Since then, the Federal Aviation Administration has reported delays from a lack of controllers have also been reported at airports in Boston; Burbank, California; Chicago; Denver; Houston; Las Vegas; Nashville, Tennessee; Philadelphia; and Phoenix.

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