Over 14,000 Air Traffic Controllers — Including 2,500 Latinos — Expected a Paycheck This Week. Instead, Their Paystubs Showed $0.
Washington, D.C. — As the government shutdown nears its 30th day, Voto Latino is once again calling on Republican lawmakers and the Trump administration to immediately work towards reopening the government and restoring pay for all federal employees.
More than 14,000 air traffic controllers across the United States are currently working without pay, forced to manage one of the most high-stakes jobs in the nation while enduring severe financial strain. Among them are 2,500 Latino controllers—part of the 300,000 Latino federal workers whose livelihoods have been disrupted. These professionals are the backbone of our national transportation system — responsible for guiding over 45,000 flights each day and ensuring the safety of millions of passengers.
Voto Latino issued the following statement:
“Our government cannot continue to function on the unpaid labor of the very people who keep this country running. Air traffic controllers are not just managing airspace — they’re safeguarding lives. And yet, they are being asked to do so with zero pay, growing debt, and mounting uncertainty about how to support their families.
When these workers looked at their pay stubs this week, the balance was zero. For nearly a month, they’ve gone without pay while being legally required to show up to work. Rent is due. Bills are piling up. Some are struggling to put gas in their cars just to get to their shifts — all while managing the intense concentration required to keep our skies safe.
The longer this shutdown continues, the greater the risks — not just for these workers, but for the nation’s aviation system. From safety redundancies and modernization efforts to training future controllers and retaining the best staff, much of the Federal Aviation Administration’s critical work faces long-term harm.”
Voto Latino calls on Republicans to immediately end this shutdown, pay our essential workers, and protect the safety of our nation’s skies. The wellbeing of 14,000 air traffic controllers — and the millions of passengers who rely on them every day — depends on it.
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Voto Latino is a civic advocacy organization dedicated to educating and empowering the next generation of Latino voters while working to build a more inclusive and representative democracy. Since its founding, Voto Latino has registered nearly two million voters. In 2024, the organization took legal action to protect voting rights, filing multiple lawsuits in Texas, Arizona, and North Carolina to safeguard access to the ballot ahead of the elections.