US Transportation Secretary threatens to fire absent air traffic controllers

BBC:

US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy threatened to fire air traffic controllers who are calling in sick while working without pay during the government shutdown.

In an interview with Fox Business News on Thursday, Duffy called the absent employees “problem children” and said they are accounting for more than half the country’s flight delays as the shutdown continues with no signs of lawmakers coming to a deal.

He praised controllers who are still showing up to work and said only about 10% are “lashing out” by not coming to work while the government goes unfunded and is unable to pay them.

“If we have some of our staff that aren’t dedicated like we need, we’re going to let them go,” he said.

Duffy said the “small subset of controllers” were creating “this massive disruption” of flight delays and cancellations.

He also addressed backpay, which President Donald Trump suggested might not be paid to some federal workers.

Last week, the president said some employees who are not at work might not receive retroactive pay once the government reopens. Air traffic controllers, though, are considered “essential workers” and are still required to carry out their duites.

“When you come to work you get paid,” Duffy said. “If you don’t come to work, you don’t get paid. That’s the way we’re going to do it.”

With the shutdown now in its second week, the consequences of Congress failing to agree a budget are growing more severe.