Impacts of the longshoremen strike have already brought shipping to a halt across the Eastern Seaboard.

As the western Carolinas recover from absolute devastation in the wake of Hurricane Helene, another unfolding development threatens to exacerbate the already tense situation along the East Coast.

Harold Daggett, president of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), made a public statement aired on announcing the indefinite strike of every dockworker from Maine to Texas. Picket lines could be seen forming out front at several ports across the coast as early as 6 am EST Tuesday morning.

Daggett, who appeared in a controversial video sporting a gold chain, threatened to cause mass layoffs across several industries, including automotive sales and construction, if the union’s demands aren’t met.

He gave his ultimatum in no uncertain terms in a video released by the union, threatening to "cripple" the US economy. “I will cripple you,” he said as he explained the expected effects of the strike within just the first few weeks.

The strike, the first since 1977 for the ILA, has brought to a halt container traffic across 14 of the country's busiest ports, including in New York, Georgia and Texas.

The ports are estimated by experts to handle more than a third of the US's imports and exports. Disruption could lead to delays on goods deliveries for businesses and consumers.

Union filings from the Department of Labor indicate Daggett was paid a $728,000 salary by the ALI last year, and another $173,000 from 1804-1.

Daggett's oldest son, Dennis Daggett, currently serves as the executive vice president of the ILA and as president of 1804-1. Dennis was paid salaries of $388,000 and $314,000, respectively, by the labor groups last year, filings show.

In 2017, The New York Times reported that "the Justice Department, which has lost two cases against [Harold] Daggett, has described him as an ‘associate’ of the Genovese crime family whose rise through the union ranks was part of the mob’s plan."

The Times also noted that, at the time, the ILA president owned a 76-foot yacht, the Obsession, and Daggett had been seen riding in a Bentley by fellow ILA union members.

The news of Daggett's exorbitant salary and luxury lifestyle grabbed attention on social media on Tuesday, and a report that the union leader sold his yacht last year prompted Elon Musk — one of the richest men in the world — to joke, "Dude had more yachts than me!"

The US Department of Transportation on Tuesday said the administration is “closely monitoring any attempts by companies to opportunistically raise prices, including ocean shippers or others, during the labor dispute at East Coast and Gulf Coast ports,” in a statement from Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

“Our administration is calling on ocean carriers to withdraw their surcharges. No one should exploit a disruption for profit, especially at a time when whole regions of the country are recovering from Hurricane Helene,” the statement reads. “We are closely monitoring potential supply chain impacts and assessing ways to address potential impacts, if necessary.”