Home Media Center News Releases

Washington, D.C.—A key Senate committee today moved forward a funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) incorporating four priority matters identified by the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU)—including prohibiting the department from using any funds to implement a new personnel system for rank and file employees.

DHS has been attempting to limit or do away with many employee rights by devising a new personnel system for agency workers. NTEU has successfully fought efforts to put in place language that would have eroded employees’ collective bargaining, due process and appeal rights, winning three federal court victories that declared DHS’s efforts illegal.

“The regressive personnel system that DHS has tried to impose on employees would only harm the agency and hurt its ability to execute its mission,” said NTEU National President Colleen M. Kelley.

In its markup of the fiscal 2009 DHS Appropriations bill, the Senate Appropriations Committee included calls for an additional 682 new Customs and Border Protection Officers (CBPOs). That number is 143 positions more than the White House requested. In addition, its markup provides $200 million to fund the law enforcement officer (LEO) retirement benefit that NTEU won for CBPOs and that goes in effect next month.

“Approval of funding for the LEO benefit sends a strong message to the administration that Congress supports this program, which will prove enormously helpful in recruitment and retention efforts,” President Kelley said.

In its budget blueprint for fiscal 2009, the White House said it would seek repeal of LEO legislation; funding for it, however, is now moving ahead in both the House and Senate.

The Senate Appropriations Committee action is largely in line with approval a week ago by the House Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee in limiting funding for a new personnel system at DHS, providing additional CBP staffing and funding the LEO benefit.

NTEU, Kelley said, will work hard to have these provisions enacted into law—and will keep up its efforts to secure sufficient CBP staffing at air, land and sea ports of entry. “CBP continues to be dangerously understaffed,” she said.

Finally, the legislation includes funding for staffing at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

“At the current time, the TSA workforce is not adequately staffed,” said President Kelley. “The agency suffers from extremely poor morale and sky-high attrition rates which depress the number of Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) far below the level that Congress has funded. TSA must address its attrition levels and bring the number of on-board employees up to the level that Congress has authorized.”