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Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers are struggling to pay for food, housing, and medicine as the partial government shutdown delays paychecks and contributes to long security lines at some airports.Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are now assisting with those lines, as Congress is working on a new proposal to fix the problem. The plan, which is still being negotiated, would fund most of the Department of Homeland Security, including TSA. It would leave out money for some ICE operations as lawmakers continue to debate immigration enforcement reforms.During a press conference on Tuesday, union leaders representing TSA officers said that they feel betrayed by both political parties. They said reports of progress won’t pay the bills, and urged lawmakers to make a deal immediately. “Our members cannot eat optimism. They cannot pay rent with progress. They need a paycheck,” said Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE).TSA workers are at risk of missing another full paycheck by the end of this week if Congress doesn’t pass a DHS funding bill. “I’m frustrated. I feel like we’ve been held hostage,” said Lisa Naclerio, a transportation security officer at Washington DC’s Reagan National Airport, during an interview on Tuesday. “It’s just myself and my daughter, so it’s been really tough trying to navigate what to pay and what not to pay.”Mac Johnson, executive vice president of AFGE’s TSA Council 100, said some workers are “beginning to starve.” The president of the council, Hydrick Thomas, said others are being evicted. The added stress is taking an emotional toll, too. Duncan McGuire, AFGE Region 5 vice president, said he’s received questions about federal employees’ insurance policies for suicide.“Some people are actually considering suicide as the only option to get their loved ones money when they can’t bring in anymore,” McGuire said.Tightening budgets are prompting many TSA agents to call out of work, with nearly 11% of those scheduled on Monday missing their shifts. At least 458 have quit altogether since the shutdown began, according to DHS. “People aren’t quitting their job because they want to quit their jobs. They love this job. They’re quitting because they have no choice,” Thomas said. Mounting departures are raising questions about the future of the workforce. “This is going to get worse, and we’re gonna have to deal with the reverberation of this for a long time,” said Adam Stahl, acting deputy administrator of TSA, noting the increase in attrition after last year’s shutdown. The current partial shutdown, which has spanned nearly 40 days so far, is the third funding lapse impacting DHS workers since the fiscal year began Oct. 1.Once the current lapse ends, some are calling on Congress to pass legislation to prevent future paycheck disruptions. In an open letter, major airline executives called on lawmakers to move forward with bipartisan proposals that will keep federal aviation workers, including TSA officers and air traffic controllers, paid during shutdowns. Asked if Congress would prioritize that legislation, Rep. Beth Van Duyne said, “I think we need to actually pay all of our workers. If you think about that, are we also not going to pay military?”Van Duyne, a Republican from Texas, also noted that TSA officers and other federal employees impacted by the shutdown will receive back pay when the shutdown ends. Johnny Jones, part of a TSA union branch in Texas, said backpay won’t cover mounting late fees that many have racked up during the pause in their paychecks.
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers are struggling to pay for food, housing, and medicine as the partial government shutdown delays paychecks and contributes to long security lines at some airports.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are now assisting with those lines, as Congress is working on a new proposal to fix the problem. The plan, which is still being negotiated, would fund most of the Department of Homeland Security, including TSA. It would leave out money for some ICE operations as lawmakers continue to debate immigration enforcement reforms.
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During a press conference on Tuesday, union leaders representing TSA officers said that they feel betrayed by both political parties. They said reports of progress won’t pay the bills, and urged lawmakers to make a deal immediately.
“Our members cannot eat optimism. They cannot pay rent with progress. They need a paycheck,” said Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE).
TSA workers are at risk of missing another full paycheck by the end of this week if Congress doesn’t pass a DHS funding bill.
“I’m frustrated. I feel like we’ve been held hostage,” said Lisa Naclerio, a transportation security officer at Washington DC’s Reagan National Airport, during an interview on Tuesday. “It’s just myself and my daughter, so it’s been really tough trying to navigate what to pay and what not to pay.”
Mac Johnson, executive vice president of AFGE’s TSA Council 100, said some workers are “beginning to starve.” The president of the council, Hydrick Thomas, said others are being evicted.
The added stress is taking an emotional toll, too. Duncan McGuire, AFGE Region 5 vice president, said he’s received questions about federal employees’ insurance policies for suicide.
“Some people are actually considering suicide as the only option to get their loved ones money when they can’t bring in anymore,” McGuire said.
Tightening budgets are prompting many TSA agents to call out of work, with nearly 11% of those scheduled on Monday missing their shifts. At least 458 have quit altogether since the shutdown began, according to DHS.
“People aren’t quitting their job because they want to quit their jobs. They love this job. They’re quitting because they have no choice,” Thomas said.
Mounting departures are raising questions about the future of the workforce.
“This is going to get worse, and we’re gonna have to deal with the reverberation of this for a long time,” said Adam Stahl, acting deputy administrator of TSA, noting the increase in attrition after last year’s shutdown.
The current partial shutdown, which has spanned nearly 40 days so far, is the third funding lapse impacting DHS workers since the fiscal year began Oct. 1.
Once the current lapse ends, some are calling on Congress to pass legislation to prevent future paycheck disruptions. In an open letter, major airline executives called on lawmakers to move forward with bipartisan proposals that will keep federal aviation workers, including TSA officers and air traffic controllers, paid during shutdowns.
Asked if Congress would prioritize that legislation, Rep. Beth Van Duyne said, “I think we need to actually pay all of our workers. If you think about that, are we also not going to pay military?”
Van Duyne, a Republican from Texas, also noted that TSA officers and other federal employees impacted by the shutdown will receive back pay when the shutdown ends.
Johnny Jones, part of a TSA union branch in Texas, said backpay won’t cover mounting late fees that many have racked up during the pause in their paychecks.
