The recent plane crash at LaGuardia Airport in Queens, New York, resulted in an increased strain on air traffic controllers. The author, who has been an FAA air traffic controller for over 16 years, does not speak for the Federal Aviation Administration or the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. He highlights the complexity of complex work and demands precision and rigor, while also dealing with everyday pressures such as a sick child, financial stress, or a looming divorce. The government shutdown has caused chaos for travelers and budget burdens for workers, and the author urges Congress to stop allowing political gridlock to threaten the livelihoods of federal aviation workers. The public deserves nothing less than less.