Customs agents and border patrol get furlough reprieve
After a flurry of reports of long lines at airport and cruise ship check points, Customs and Border Protection has decided to postpone furloughs and reinstate overtime pay. The change comes after President Barack Obama signed a new continuing resolution giving agencies a small dose of relief amidst the wave of sequestration cuts that started March 1.
CBP had originally planned to furlough all of its 60,000 workers for up to 14 days this fiscal year. It also eliminated overtime pay. Both issues are now on hold as CBP officials said they are reexamining the plan.
The National Border Patrol Council, a union representing border patrol employees, said the reevaluation was a positive first step.
“While the fight is by no means over and CBP has not issued definitive plans for its employees, they have signaled a willingness to reduce the impact both financially and operationally on Border Patrol agents,” NBPC said in a release.
The reprieve for border patrol agents is just the latest in a series of changes to furlough schedules. Most agencies released at least tentative furlough plans after sequestration’s across-the-board cuts went into effect March 1. The passage of a new funding bill gave agencies more flexibility in their spending and eliminated the need for some of the planned cutbacks.
One of the most dramatic changes came at the Pentagon. Civilian Pentagon employees found their planned furlough days lowered from 21 to 14 as a result of a new Defense Department appropriations bill. Some 800,000 DOD employees still face furloughs starting in June.
Other agencies are lowering or eliminating furloughs or other cutbacks.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture said it won’t furlough meat inspectors, thanks to an influx of funds from the continuing resolution. The CR included a special provision guaranteeing extra funds to pay for food safety and inspection services, avoiding some 11 furlough days this fiscal year. More than 500,000 food industry workers faced furloughs, impacting more than 6,300 food inspection facilities.
Environmental Protection Agency workers still face up to 13 days furlough. The Times-Picayune reports the EPA will close at various days through the year including additional days off without pay during Memorial Day, July 4 and Labor Day holidays.
Federal Aviation Administration workers still face furloughs of up to 11 days, with more than 47,000 total workers impacted. The furloughs could begin as soon as April 7, according to the FAA. The FAA already announced the closure of 149 air traffic control towers, including ones in Dothan and Tuscaloosa.
Housing and Urban Development will shut down entirely for seven days between May and August. More than 9,000 workers will be impacted. HUD officials said its headquarters and field offices will both be closed on those days.
The Justice Department is holding off until mid-April to decide if it will furlough workers, a change from an earlier plan that required prison workers, federal prosecutors and other civilian workers to take 14 days unpaid leave. The Justice Department said they are evaluating the results of the CR before making a final decision on furloughs.
Labor Department workers may be among the first to begin their furloughs. The Labor Department sent out 4,700 furlough notices, representing about 28 percent of its total workforce, to employees March 5. Furloughs are set to start this month, with workers taking up to six days of unpaid leave.
The White House has signaled it will send furlough notices to 480 workers. So far, the White House has only acknowledged furloughs for workers at the Office of Management and Budget and within the Executive Office of the President. The number of furlough days has not been confirmed.
