DHS
The Department of Homeland Security has a vital mission: to secure the nation from the many threats we face. This requires the dedication of more than 230,000 employees in jobs that range from aviation and border security to emergency response, from cybersecurity analyst to chemical facility inspector. [Their] duties are wide-ranging, but [their] goal is clear: keeping America safe. (source: www.dhs.gov)
Perhaps you are working for the DHS or interested in working for the DHS. Here is a forum to share your experience with the DHS.
Rank: Senior Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/26/2009(UTC)
Posts: 1,252
Thanks: 28 times
Was thanked: 85 time(s) in 80 post(s)
|
Originally Posted by: croptachi  Notes from union call for Local 1924 (HQ/National Capital Area). (20 year agency employee, field/center/and HQ time)
1. If no congressional funding by June 20th, furlough notices will likely go out - per CBA, management needs to give 30 days notice to affected employees.
2. Furlough will follow RIF guidelines found on OPM.gov - Service Comp Date + bonus years for last three PPAs (do your own math)
3. Furlough will affect 60-70% of staff nationwide, including management - this is 60-70% reduction per directorate/office.
4. Furlough is temporary but expected to last until funding is available or FY21 starts, possibly longer.
5. Reminder to call your elected officials
6. Union leadership cautiously optimistic on the bailout - union lobbyists and union leaders meeting daily with appropriations and judiciary to explain the situation.
7. No mention of buy-outs or early retirements, yet.
8. No hiring/onboarding for the foreseeable future.
Personal thoughts based on tenure with INS/USCIS, I think that if an employee has a SCD after 2008, unfortunately they should prepare to be furloughed.
Will USCIS use Service Comp Date or USCIS EOD date?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
Groups: Guests
Joined: 2/6/2014(UTC)
Posts: 33,037
Was thanked: 15 time(s) in 15 post(s)
|
Lol who cares at this point
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Senior Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/26/2009(UTC)
Posts: 1,252
Thanks: 28 times
Was thanked: 85 time(s) in 80 post(s)
|
Originally Posted by: janathan48 In May, USCIS cited a projected budget shortfall and asked Congress for $1.2 billion in emergency funding. The agency said if it doesn’t get the appropriations, it will begin to furlough employees by July 20. But a Democratic aide on the House Appropriations Committee said lawmakers still have not received a formal appropriations request, so the status remains unclear. https://www.rollcall.com...rs-in-2000-new-citizens/ "lawmakers still have not received a formal appropriations request"... as of what date?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/5/2015(UTC) Posts: 22  Thanks: 4 times
Was thanked: 3 time(s) in 2 post(s)
|
Originally Posted by: janathan48 In May, USCIS cited a projected budget shortfall and asked Congress for $1.2 billion in emergency funding. The agency said if it doesn’t get the appropriations, it will begin to furlough employees by July 20. But a Democratic aide on the House Appropriations Committee said lawmakers still have not received a formal appropriations request, so the status remains unclear. https://www.rollcall.com...rs-in-2000-new-citizens/ This does not sound promising.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Rookie
Groups: Registered
Joined: 6/5/2017(UTC) Posts: 34 Thanks: 1 times
Was thanked: 4 time(s) in 3 post(s)
|
|
 1 user thanked bleedgreen18 for this useful post.
|
|
|
|
Rank: Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 8/12/2019(UTC) Posts: 17 Thanks: 2 times
Was thanked: 6 time(s) in 4 post(s)
|
Yeah, upper management informed us about this. From the way they were talking about it, it seems like we are for sure getting furloughed as they don't think we will get the funding in time. We are also getting a session on how to apply for unemployment. Depressing times keeps getting more depressing. Originally Posted by: bleedgreen18 https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2020/06/dhs-begin-sending-furlough-notices-15000-employees-next-week/166096/
Take this with a grain of salt.
|
1 user thanked GreatlakesISO for this useful post.
|
|
|
|
Rank: Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 1/19/2017(UTC) Posts: 13 Thanks: 5 times
Was thanked: 4 time(s) in 3 post(s)
|
Originally Posted by: janathan48 Been saying this for a while now. The use of Covid was a scapegoat to shutdown/slowdown the agency. This election will be a close one and we all know new naturalized citizens don’t tend to vote red
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 8/12/2019(UTC) Posts: 17 Thanks: 2 times
Was thanked: 6 time(s) in 4 post(s)
|
Looks like the furlough has been pushed back to August 03rd. Hopefully, this will buy the agency enough time to get emergency funding.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Advisor
Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/21/2015(UTC)
Posts: 130
Was thanked: 7 time(s) in 7 post(s)
|
Originally Posted by: GIjoe Originally Posted by: janathan48 Been saying this for a while now. The use of Covid was a scapegoat to shutdown/slowdown the agency. This election will be a close one and we all know new naturalized citizens don’t tend to vote red If Wuhan never happened, USCIS isn't in this position. Period. Saying the agency used it as a "scapegoat" is venturing into conspiracy theory territory.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Senior Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/26/2009(UTC)
Posts: 1,252
Thanks: 28 times
Was thanked: 85 time(s) in 80 post(s)
|
There are several things at play that will likely cause the furlough to happen...
Two things for sure: COVID-19 and the $200 million transferred from USCIS to ICE.
The President has NOT formally requested funding from the appropriations committee and until then, Congress may not consider the loan. So reaching out to our Reps and Senators will do nothing in the long run. It's on the Prez's desk right now. Sit and wait.
|
1 user thanked for this useful post.
|
|
|
|
Rank: Rookie
Groups: Registered
Joined: 11/9/2017(UTC) Posts: 40 Location: haha Thanks: 1 times
Was thanked: 2 time(s) in 2 post(s)
|
Originally Posted by: Mike in VT There are several things at play that will likely cause the furlough to happen...
Two things for sure: COVID-19 and the $200 million transferred from USCIS to ICE.
The President has NOT formally requested funding from the appropriations committee and until then, Congress may not consider the loan. So reaching out to our Reps and Senators will do nothing in the long run. It's on the Prez's desk right now. Sit and wait. thanks for the news I wonder how long this is going to take. and I even turned down a job at DOS a few months ago..... |
Moving to CN, and you can't stop me!!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
Groups: Guests
Joined: 2/6/2014(UTC)
Posts: 33,037
Was thanked: 15 time(s) in 15 post(s)
|
Had really tasty salmon for dinner. Usually I like to use flavors from my past. Today I decided to use flavors from my future.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/5/2015(UTC) Posts: 22 Thanks: 4 times
Was thanked: 3 time(s) in 2 post(s)
|
Originally Posted by: daisy33 Originally Posted by: Mike in VT There are several things at play that will likely cause the furlough to happen...
Two things for sure: COVID-19 and the $200 million transferred from USCIS to ICE.
The President has NOT formally requested funding from the appropriations committee and until then, Congress may not consider the loan. So reaching out to our Reps and Senators will do nothing in the long run. It's on the Prez's desk right now. Sit and wait. thanks for the news I wonder how long this is going to take. and I even turned down a job at DOS a few months ago..... Going from the headlines, I don't think employment at DOS would be any less tumultuous in the short term. Since a formal request still has not been made, I see no reason to expect that it ever will. In that case, I think it's reasonable to expect this to continue through January.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Senior Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/26/2009(UTC)
Posts: 1,252
Thanks: 28 times
Was thanked: 85 time(s) in 80 post(s)
|
Originally Posted by: ISOapplicant Originally Posted by: daisy33 Originally Posted by: Mike in VT There are several things at play that will likely cause the furlough to happen...
Two things for sure: COVID-19 and the $200 million transferred from USCIS to ICE.
The President has NOT formally requested funding from the appropriations committee and until then, Congress may not consider the loan. So reaching out to our Reps and Senators will do nothing in the long run. It's on the Prez's desk right now. Sit and wait. thanks for the news I wonder how long this is going to take. and I even turned down a job at DOS a few months ago..... Going from the headlines, I don't think employment at DOS would be any less tumultuous in the short term. Since a formal request still has not been made, I see no reason to expect that it ever will. In that case, I think it's reasonable to expect this to continue through January. Why January specifically? Just curious. This could go much longer than that if the Administration wishes to eliminate/ban H1B and other guest worker programs. Depending on the job you applied for at DOS, they're going to be affected too, since they handle the visa side of our work.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/5/2015(UTC) Posts: 22 Thanks: 4 times
Was thanked: 3 time(s) in 2 post(s)
|
Originally Posted by: Mike in VT
Why January specifically? Just curious.
This could go much longer than that if the Administration wishes to eliminate/ban H1B and other guest worker programs. Depending on the job you applied for at DOS, they're going to be affected too, since they handle the visa side of our work.
I have no inside information, I'm just making guesses based on the figures that have been made public. It seems to me that 5-6 months with 70% of the workforce off, and with receipts returning to near the pre-COVID levels, the agency would return to solvency by that time. I don't think it's likely that any administration would eliminate H-1B programs. I believe those programs would be the last to be eliminated due to influence from the business community.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Senior Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/26/2009(UTC)
Posts: 1,252
Thanks: 28 times
Was thanked: 85 time(s) in 80 post(s)
|
Originally Posted by: ISOapplicant Originally Posted by: Mike in VT
Why January specifically? Just curious.
This could go much longer than that if the Administration wishes to eliminate/ban H1B and other guest worker programs. Depending on the job you applied for at DOS, they're going to be affected too, since they handle the visa side of our work.
I have no inside information, I'm just making guesses based on the figures that have been made public. It seems to me that 5-6 months with 70% of the workforce off, and with receipts returning to near the pre-COVID levels, the agency would return to solvency by that time. I don't think it's likely that any administration would eliminate H-1B programs. I believe those programs would be the last to be eliminated due to influence from the business community. Fingers crossed - I hope you're right.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Newbie
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/1/2015(UTC) Posts: 4 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
Groups: Guests
Joined: 2/6/2014(UTC)
Posts: 33,037
Was thanked: 15 time(s) in 15 post(s)
|
Originally Posted by: Heathersmiles844 https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2020/06/more-homeland-security-employees-fear-furloughs-funding-fee-collections-drops/166199/ Glad that CBP can join in on the fun!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Senior Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 5/1/2009(UTC)
Posts: 490
Thanks: 18 times
Was thanked: 3 time(s) in 3 post(s)
|
Originally Posted by: Mike in VT There are several things at play that will likely cause the furlough to happen...
Two things for sure: COVID-19 and the $200 million transferred from USCIS to ICE.
The President has NOT formally requested funding from the appropriations committee and until then, Congress may not consider the loan. So reaching out to our Reps and Senators will do nothing in the long run. It's on the Prez's desk right now. Sit and wait. For what it's worth, during FOD Town hall, the ICE transfer part was pretty much denied or maybe lessened. Again, for what's it's worth :)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Advisor
Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/21/2015(UTC)
Posts: 130
Was thanked: 7 time(s) in 7 post(s)
|
Originally Posted by: Eternal-Itch Originally Posted by: Mike in VT There are several things at play that will likely cause the furlough to happen...
Two things for sure: COVID-19 and the $200 million transferred from USCIS to ICE.
The President has NOT formally requested funding from the appropriations committee and until then, Congress may not consider the loan. So reaching out to our Reps and Senators will do nothing in the long run. It's on the Prez's desk right now. Sit and wait. For what it's worth, during FOD Town hall, the ICE transfer part was pretty much denied or maybe lessened. Again, for what's it's worth :) They also figured it into the budget before the fiscal year started. No accounting for a pandemic.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forum Jump
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.
Facebook
Twitter