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Nearly 11,000 Air Traffic Controllers Are Working Without Pay amid Government Shutdown as Officials Insist Flying Remains Safe
People Magazine ^ | October 6, 2025 | Jillian Frankel

Posted on 10/06/2025 5:08:42 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican

Nearly 11,000 air traffic controllers nationwide are working without pay amid a shutdown of the federal government, officials said.

On Monday, Oct. 6, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy delivered remarks at a news conference at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey after speaking with air traffic controllers, who are required to keep working despite Congress grinding to a halt after failing to pass a spending bill to fund the government past Sept. 30.

"What the consistent message was, from these controllers, was they're not just now thinking about the airspace and the jobs they have to do in these towers or TRACON centers across the country, they're thinking about, 'Am I going to get a paycheck?' " Duffy said in a video shared by the Associated Press.

"And their paychecks should come a week from tomorrow. And so now what they think about as they're controlling our airspace is how am I going to pay my mortgage? How do I make my car payment? I have a couple kids at home - how do I put food on the table?' " he continued.

When reached by phone, a National Air Traffic Controllers Association representative confirmed to PEOPLE that about 10,800 air traffic controllers are currently working without pay.

Nick Daniels, NATCA president, told Forbes the impacted workers are set to obtain a partial paycheck on Tuesday, Oct. 14, then their first zero paycheck on Tuesday, Oct. 28. The NATCA representative verified that timeline to PEOPLE.

On Wednesday, Oct. 1, NATCA released a statement detailing the impact of the shutdown on its workers, noting air traffic controllers are required to keep working during the shutdown.

(Excerpt) Read more at people.com ...


TOPICS: Government
KEYWORDS: atc; flying; travel
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1 posted on 10/06/2025 5:08:42 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
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To: MinorityRepublican

They’re going to get paid...they always do. Now for the rest of the government leaches...if they don’t work, they shouldn’t get paid.


2 posted on 10/06/2025 5:17:32 PM PDT by rottndog (Posse Comitatus does not Trump the Constitution. )
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To: MinorityRepublican
And their paychecks should come a week from tomorrow.

So the headline is basically a lie. IF there is no agreement between parties in the next week, and IF there is no special arrangement for ATC personnel, THEN more than a week from now they might not receive their paycheck on schedule.

3 posted on 10/06/2025 5:18:50 PM PDT by EnderWiggin1970
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To: MinorityRepublican

Bullcrap.


4 posted on 10/06/2025 5:21:32 PM PDT by Organic Panic ('Was I molested. I think so' - Ashley Biden in response to her father joining her in the shower.)
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To: EnderWiggin1970

Most people have savings these days...it’s NOT like the old days when every penny went to survive.


5 posted on 10/06/2025 5:22:32 PM PDT by Sacajaweau
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To: MinorityRepublican

They will get paid all their backpacks when the government opens.


6 posted on 10/06/2025 5:23:05 PM PDT by Jonty30 (Socialism's promises, like a Djinn's wishes to the greedy, lead to punishment when due. )
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To: MinorityRepublican

No, they are not. There hasn’t been a payday since the shutdown began. Direct deposit went through on Sep 29, before the shutdown. If the shutdown goes beyond the 14th, then their pay will be delayed, but they will get paid. All theater.


7 posted on 10/06/2025 5:23:39 PM PDT by ETCM (“There is no security, no safety, in the appeasement of evil.” — Ronald Reagan)
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To: MinorityRepublican

I’m so sick of these lies.

ATC are six figure jobs.

They kids ain’t gonna starve.

They aint gotta worry about they mortgage or they healthcare.

AND.... they WILL get paid.

Edited for decorum


8 posted on 10/06/2025 5:34:21 PM PDT by logitech
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To: Organic Panic

People magazine is another leftist/rat snake-pit. Moving on


9 posted on 10/06/2025 5:40:40 PM PDT by iamgalt
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To: MinorityRepublican

People magazine.
A more able collection of air traffic control, finance, and government pay practices and schedules existeth not.
Believe them, believe them.
/s


10 posted on 10/06/2025 5:41:43 PM PDT by Da Coyote
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To: Sacajaweau

And you’re basing that on….?


11 posted on 10/06/2025 5:48:10 PM PDT by ripnbang ("An armed man is a citizen, an unarmed man, a subject.")
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To: MinorityRepublican

Becoming an air traffic controller is a competitive process. The applicants now the position is essential and should realize they may work for deferred pay.


12 posted on 10/06/2025 6:00:27 PM PDT by vaskypilot
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To: MinorityRepublican

If you can’t manage on $100,000++ per year, you shouldn’t be managing air traffic.

Do you need to be replaced?


13 posted on 10/06/2025 6:03:17 PM PDT by Brian Griffin
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To: ETCM

“how am I going to pay my mortgage?”

“Direct deposit went through on Sep 29”

Don’t tell us you couldn’t pay your mortgage for October 1st.


14 posted on 10/06/2025 6:05:39 PM PDT by Brian Griffin
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To: MinorityRepublican

Every job I’ve ever had I worked without pay, then pay day came. These ATC’s are no different. They will get paid. The thread title is a play on words, which makes it a lie.


15 posted on 10/06/2025 6:10:10 PM PDT by redfreedom (They’re AWFUL...Affuent White Female Urban Leftists)
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To: MinorityRepublican

I belong to a credit union for Federal government employees. Like other shutdowns, programs are available for loans in the amount of one paycheck. In addition, employees can skip a loan payment (auto, house, etc.) without a penalty. Many utilitties will work with customers effected by a shutdown.


16 posted on 10/06/2025 6:26:11 PM PDT by vaskypilot
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To: Brian Griffin

100k a year ain’t what it used to be


17 posted on 10/06/2025 6:29:04 PM PDT by Rural_Michigan
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To: MinorityRepublican

I do not believe this.


18 posted on 10/06/2025 6:36:16 PM PDT by A strike (Why is the UnitedStates at war with Russia? fMI6 !)
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To: Rural_Michigan

Yep,
took a long damn time to get to that salary before the insane now term..


19 posted on 10/06/2025 6:41:35 PM PDT by A strike (Why is the UnitedStates at war with Russia? fMI6 !)
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To: MinorityRepublican

This is a prime example of WHY Air Traffic Controllers should be privatized.


20 posted on 10/06/2025 6:45:14 PM PDT by Cen-Tejas
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