Stop Exploiting America’s Air Traffic Controllers: Pay and Protect Them Now

The ongoing abuse of America’s air traffic controllers is an unforgivable failure of government duty. These men and women are essential workers—responsible for the safety of millions of passengers, the security of our skies, and the steady movement of commerce that underpins our entire economy. Yet, in the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, they continue to work without pay. Air traffic controllers have been forced to keep planes flying while their bills pile up and their families go without. Many have fallen ill from stress. Others are working side jobs late into the night—delivering food or driving rideshare—just to afford groceries before returning to duty at dawn. This is not a sustainable or humane system. It is state-sanctioned exploitation under the banner of “public service." Supervisors cannot replace fully trained controllers. It is the equivalent of asking a football coach to play quarterback in the Super Bowl—disastrous and reckless. These skilled professionals are irreplaceable. They are the first line of defense for our airspace and borders, and their work is a critical nexus connecting national security, transportation, commerce, and the global economy. When an air traffic controller cannot work, America stops. Pilots don’t fly. Crews don’t work. Shipments don’t arrive. Products don’t get made or sold. Businesses slow down, layoffs follow, and the ripple effects spread to every household. The economic engine that sustains this nation and drives the world’s trade network depends on their focus, precision, and well-being. I, the undersigned, demand immediate the following action: 1. Immediate restoration of full pay for all air traffic controllers and aviation safety personnel affected by the shutdown. 2. Permanent classification of air traffic controllers as critical national security personnel, ensuring their pay and operational capacity cannot be suspended in any future budget impasse. 3. Federal legislation guaranteeing financial and mental health protections for essential aviation workers compelled to serve during shutdowns or national emergencies. Stop using air traffic controllers as political hostages. Their labor keeps every plane in the sky, every package on schedule, and every life in transit safe. America cannot afford another day of this negligence. Pay them now. Protect them permanently. Respect the people who keep this nation moving.