Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says he understands the frustrations and worries of air traffic controllers who have to work without a paycheck during the government shutdown, but he and the union that represents controllers are also now emphasizing that calling out sick in protest could cost them their jobs
There are approximately 14K ATCs in the US. So "… It’s a small fraction of people who don’t come to work. They can create this massive disruption. And that’s what you’re seeing rippling through our skies today.”, they are going to fire the one’s who call in sick. Where are they going to find replacements for the ones that they fire?