"A breaking point" — Inside the 68-day DHS shutdown
Summary
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been partially shut down for 68 days, causing major problems for its workers. Many employees feel ignored by Congress and face difficulties like lack of office supplies, unpaid expenses, and low morale. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has seen many officers quit or take time off due to financial stress.Key Facts
- The DHS partial shutdown has lasted 68 days, affecting about 260,000 employees.
- Many DHS offices are running out of basic supplies like paper clips, printer toner, and paper.
- Vendors supplying critical services, including cybersecurity and even toilet paper, are uncertain if they will be paid.
- Government travel credit cards are unpaid, forcing employees to cover expenses themselves, damaging personal credit scores.
- TSA officers have accumulated over $5 million monthly in travel expenses making airport security possible.
- Some Secret Service agents have paid out-of-pocket for protective travel without reimbursement for two months.
- A presidential directive has guaranteed back pay for DHS employees, helping reduce TSA officer absenteeism by 45%.
- Despite improvements, over 780 TSA officers resigned during the shutdown, with concerns the number will grow.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.