CBP Won't Face Furloughs Thanks to Budget Reprogramming Authority from Congress
Congressional appropriations committees approved on June 19 a Department of Homeland Security plan to reallocate CBP funding, thereby preventing furloughs. The reprogramming authority -- which agencies must ask Congressional appropriators for, and is separate from any funding bill -- eliminates the need to furlough CBP employees for the rest of this fiscal year, DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano said in a message to employees. The approval “mitigates the challenges our workforce would have faced with furloughs,” she said. The authority does not, however, eliminate the impact of sequestration on CBP, “or change the significant cut to our budget for FY 2013,” Napolitano said. “CBP will continue a hiring freeze for non-frontline personnel, maintain limited reductions in overtime … reduce travel and conferences,” and forego agency monetary awards for the rest of the fiscal year, she said.
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CBP employees initially had 14 furlough days planned, National Employees Treasury Union President Colleen Kelley said in a statement. “No employee should face the loss of nearly three weeks’ pay—as would have been the case for CBP employees,” Kelley said. “CBP already suffers from a serious understaffing problem at our nation’s borders.”
For a copy of Napolitano's message or Kelley's statement, email ITTNews@warren-news.com.