Once again, the truth is finally coming out—and this time, it’s about the mess left behind at the Department of Transportation. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, known more for his photo ops than actual results, is facing well-deserved criticism for how he treated America’s air traffic controllers. And now, President Trump is stepping in to clean up the leftovers.
During the latest government shutdown, President Trump called on air traffic controllers to get back to work. Not only did he offer a $10,000 bonus to those who stayed on the job, but he also made it clear that non-patriotic workers who walked off would face consequences. That’s leadership. That’s standing up for the American people who rely on airplanes to get to work, see family, and live their lives. You can’t just walk off the job when the country needs you.
Trump’s statement was loud and clear: show up or step aside. And for those who stayed loyal and kept America moving, there’s a reward. That’s fair. That’s common sense. Most Americans understand that if you don’t do your job, you don’t get paid. Sadly, that kind of logic seems to be lost on folks like Pete Buttigieg.
Buttigieg fired back on social media, saying Trump “wouldn’t last five minutes as an air traffic controller” and accusing the President of mistreating them. But here’s the thing: Buttigieg wasn’t exactly a shining example when he ran the Department of Transportation. In fact, he was missing in action more often than not. Remember the supply chain crisis? The baby formula shortage? Grounded flights and delayed trains? That was all on his watch.
Current Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy didn’t hold back. He told Buttigieg to sit this one out, reminding him that the real work is being done now—fixing all the problems left behind by the last administration. Duffy is in the trenches, dealing with the fallout, and he’s not about to take lectures from someone who couldn’t even show up for the job.
But the most powerful words came from someone who actually lived it—Joanie Scott, a retired air traffic controller with 34 years of experience. She didn’t hold back when she called out Buttigieg for destroying morale at the FAA and forcing unnecessary mandates on workers. According to her, Buttigieg and the Biden administration shoved dangerous policies onto the people who keep our skies safe. She even pointed out that under his watch, men were allowed into women’s bathrooms in the workplace. That’s not progress—that’s chaos.
Joanie also had to take a vaccine she didn’t want, just to keep her job. That’s not freedom. That’s not respect. That’s government overreach, plain and simple. And now Buttigieg wants to play the victim? No thanks.
Americans are tired of being told they’re the problem when they’re the ones holding everything together. Air traffic controllers have tough jobs, but they’re also public servants. That means showing up when it matters most. And when one group decides to walk off the job during a shutdown—hurting families, delaying flights, and risking safety—there should be consequences.
President Trump gets it. He knows that rewarding loyalty and hard work is how you rebuild a strong and dependable workforce. And unlike Buttigieg, he actually shows up. He doesn’t run from responsibility—he takes charge.
The truth is, the people who are still running around defending Pete Buttigieg are the same ones who think government workers should get paid no matter what, even if they don’t show up. That’s not how the real world works. Regular Americans don’t get that luxury. You clock in, or you don’t get paid. It’s that simple.
So while the media tries to paint this as Trump being “mean” or “unfair,” the silent majority sees the truth. They’re tired of excuses and empty leadership. They want accountability, and they want to know that someone in Washington still has their back.
And right now, that someone is President Donald J. Trump.