Trump demands air traffic controllers return, threatens pay cuts, offers bonuses amid 40-day shutdown causing flight chaos.

Trump demanded air traffic controllers return to work during the longest U.S. government shutdown in history, threatening pay deductions for those who don’t, while praising those who worked as "GREAT PATRIOTS" and promising $10,000 bonuses. The shutdown, now over 40 days old, has left controllers unpaid, prompting some to take second jobs or call in sick. The FAA responded by cutting flights by up to 10% at 40 major airports, causing over 4,500 cancellations and 18,000 delays. Travelers faced widespread disruptions, with union leaders calling the workers "unsung heroes" amid financial strain and staffing shortages. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy echoed Trump’s stance, pledging to seek rewards through Congress, while lawmakers remain divided on ending the impasse.