US could dismiss ‘problem children’ air traffic controllers who fail to work

As hundreds of flights are delayed and cancelled due to staff shortage amid the government shutdown which entered Day 9 today, October 9, the United States government has warned air traffic controllers that they would be dismissed who fail to show up for work. In a statement, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy called the absent employees “problem children,” saying the spike in employee absences is causing significant air disruptions.

Sean Duffy said, “If we have a continual small subset of controllers that don't show up to work, and they're the problem children ... if we have some on our staff that aren't dedicated like we need, we're going to let them go.” He continued, “I can't have people not showing up for work.”

Meanwhile, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association has urg