President Donald Trump on Monday stepped up his criticism of air traffic controllers who were absent for part of the record-breaking government shutdownwhen they are required to work for free.
During the Fox News interview, Trump abruptly fired employees, who in some cases had to take second jobs to pay their bills amid a funding cutoff that will reach the six-week mark on Tuesday.
“You know, a lot of the people who came also had second jobs. They took second jobs temporarily. But they all know the money is coming, and the money has been coming,” Trump told host Laura Ingraham.
Air traffic controllers are classified as essential government employees, meaning they are required to report to work during a shutdown even if they are not paid. Military personnel who are also essential workers have received a salary during a break in funding.
Trump has been inconsistent in recent remarks about federal workers' back pay when the government reopens.
Last month, he said it “depends on who we're talking about” when asked whether he supported back pay for federal workers, and that “there are people who really don't deserve to be taken care of, and we'll take care of them differently.”
The Trump administration has also explored ways to prevent furloughed workers from getting their wages back, despite Federal law 2019 requiring debt payment, including through draft memorandum last month This does not give federal employees the right to retroactive payment, White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt said.
The memo appeared to contradict previous guidance from the Office of Management and Budget, which stated that in the event of a work stoppage, federal workers would be paid for any delays in pay.
Trump's comments Monday on Fox News came after he called on air traffic controllers to return to work in a social media post earlier in the day, days after the Federal Aviation Administration began working. flight cancellations at dozens of major US airports The move, officials said, was intended to compensate for staffing shortages.
Trump threatened to withhold wages from those who did not show up for work, while saying he would recommend $10,000 bonuses to those who stayed absent during the shutdown.
“To those who did nothing but complain and take time off when everyone knew they would be paid in FULL in the near future: I AM NOT SHAPPY WITH YOU,” Trump wrote on Pravda Social.
He reiterated that sentiment on Fox News, saying, “I want to reward the people who showed up without any nonsense and without any unnecessary talk.”
“They got the job done and in many cases worked longer to help us get through this period,” Trump added.
Asked how he would pay the bonuses, Trump replied: “I don’t know. I'll get them somewhere.”
More broadly, Trump rejected the growing concerns about the economy among voters. Stating that “the economy is the strongest it's ever been,” Ingraham asked Trump why people say they're worried about the economy.
“I don’t know what they’re saying,” Trump responded. “I think opinion polls are fake. We have the greatest economy we've ever had.”
Recent NBC News poll found that about two-thirds of respondents nationwide said Trump had failed to deliver on his promises to curb inflation and improve the economy.
The president also weighed in on the legal fight over Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding, saying the program “really puts the company and the country at risk.”
He then expressed disdain for the “able-bodied people” he said were quitting their jobs to receive SNAP benefits.
“The people who need it should get it. I'm all for it, but people who are able-bodied, can do the job, they leave the job because they think they can get it, it's easier,” Trump said. “That's not the goal.”
Trump administration on Monday filed an additional briefing with the Supreme Court seeking an extension to the pause introduced last week block full federal funding for the food assistance program'advantages to approximately 42 million recipients.
Senate on Monday evening passed a bill to reopen the governmentwith a provision that would ensure SNAP benefits continue until September of next year. The measure now heads to the House of Representatives.
