Air traffic controllers are getting paid again, now that the longest government shutdown in U.S. history is over.

Air traffic controllers dominated headlines during the shutdown as they continued to work their stressful jobs without pay. Some of them took on side gigs to make up for lost income. And as the shutdown dragged on, controller shortages led to flight delays and cancellations around the country. 

Now things are slowly getting back to normal, as the FAA lifts restrictions on air traffic ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Steph Winder of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association tells us how controllers are doing now that they're out of shutdown mode.

GUEST: 
Steph Winder, Northwest Mountain Regional Vice President of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association

RELATED LINKS:
Trump Wants $10K Bonus for Air Traffic Controllers Who Didn't Call Out - Business Insider
Air traffic controllers warn of ‘tipping point’ during shutdown : NPR
FAA to Lift Government Shutdown-Related Flight Restrictions - WSJ

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Air traffic controllers are getting paid again, now that&nbsp;the longest government shutdown in U.S. history is over.
Air traffic controllers dominated headlines during the shutdown as they continued to work their stressful jobs without pay. Some of them took on side gigs to make up for lost income. And as the shutdown dragged on, controller shortages led to flight delays and cancellations around the country.&nbsp;
Now things are slowly getting back to normal, as the FAA lifts restrictions on air traffic ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.
Steph Winder of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association tells us how controllers are doing now that they're out of shutdown mode.
GUEST:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Steph Winder, Northwest Mountain Regional Vice President of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association</li>
</ul>
RELATED LINKS:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-bonus-air-traffic-controllers-shutdown-2025-11"></a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-bonus-air-traffic-controllers-shutdown-2025-11">Trump Wants $10K Bonus for Air Traffic Controllers Who Didn't Call Out - Business Insider</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-bonus-air-traffic-controllers-shutdown-2025-11"></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/11/05/nx-s1-5598420/air-traffic-controllers-government-shutdown">Air traffic controllers warn of &lsquo;tipping point&rsquo; during shutdown : NPR</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.wsj.com/business/airlines/faa-to-lift-government-shutdown-related-flight-restrictions-65371abc?msockid=385f1fa4c230629c17ad0994c3f763e6">FAA to Lift Government Shutdown-Related Flight Restrictions - WSJ</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Soundside

Air traffic controllers are getting paid again, now that the longest government shutdown in U.S. history is over. Steph Winder with the air traffic controllers union tell us how they're doing, post shutdown.

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