A proposal by President Donald Trump to dock the pay of air traffic controllers who called in sick during the federal government shutdown is being questioned by U.S. Rep. Sam Graves, R-Mo. The 6th District Congressman said he understands the president’s frustration, but he’s hesitant to endorse punishing them.
“The problem with something like that is you really don’t know the circumstances,” Graves told Missourinet affiliate KFEQ in St. Joseph. “They may have actually been sick.”
Graves, who chairs the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, said air traffic controllers have a high-stress job and not getting paid during the shutdown did not help.
“You also can’t fault somebody who’s trying to make a car payment and a mortgage payment,” he said. “You don’t know what their personal circumstance is, and they have to go out and get another job for the time being to try to make ends meet.”
The Trump administration has announced it will give $10,000 bonuses to air traffic controllers with perfect attendance during the shutdown.
Brent Martin of KFEQ in St. Joseph submitted this report
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