Mayorkas’ final tally: $3 billion in extra vacation time for DHS employees

[Valletta]

The move is not just a thank-you to the employees but also an aggressive challenge to the incoming Trump administration, which will have to decide whether to try to claw back the time — and perhaps risk angering the workers.

‘Santo Mayorkas’: DHS secretary’s final tally tops $3 billion in extra vacation time for employees

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas blessed his employees with another three days of taxpayer-funded vacation time, bringing his four-year total to more than six weeks — the equivalent of $3 billion — of bonus time off.

www.washingtontimes.com

Tops off Joe selling off pieces of the wall. After all they figure it's not their money and they don't want to see others succeed.

 

[Fantine]

I was a federal employee for 4 years. They have something called "comp time" instead of overtime. If you worked more than 40 hours a week, you could use those extra hours at another prearranged time.
I am sure that this is what this article from a conservative media source wanting to present it in the worst possible way is referring to.
I am also sure that there were many times that Homeland Security employees worked more than 40 hours a week.
They have a hard job and I don't begrudge them having a little extra time with their families.

 

[Pommer]

The move is not just a thank-you to the employees but also an aggressive challenge to the incoming Trump administration, which will have to decide whether to try to claw back the time — and perhaps risk angering the workers.

‘Santo Mayorkas’: DHS secretary’s final tally tops $3 billion in extra vacation time for employees

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas blessed his employees with another three days of taxpayer-funded vacation time, bringing his four-year total to more than six weeks — the equivalent of $3 billion — of bonus time off.

www.washingtontimes.com

Tops off Joe selling off pieces of the wall. After all they figure it's not their money and they don't want to see others succeed.

What’s the “complaint”?
Trump & company are going to decimate the Federal workforce anyways.

 

[Valletta]

What’s the “complaint”?
Trump & company are going to decimate the Federal workforce anyways.

There are a lot who should go.

 

[RocksInMyHead]

From the article:

Administrative leave is an excused absence from work. Under federal personnel rules, agency chiefs can grant a maximum of 10 days annually. [...]
Agency records show Mr. Mayorkas granted 45 hours of extra time off in 2021, and he became more profligate. In 2022, he granted 48 hours, or six full days. He hit his stride in 2023 with nine full days of extra vacation and topped it last year with 10 days, or two full weeks.

He topped it off by delivering three final days this year.

Sounds to me like he followed the law. He's permitted to grant up to 10 days of administrative leave per year, and he never went over that.

 

[Pommer]

There are a lot who should go.

Just think how great it’ll be when the GOP finally drowns the government in the bathtub!

 

[iluvatar5150]

I was a federal employee for 4 years. They have something called "comp time" instead of overtime. If you worked more than 40 hours a week, you could use those extra hours at another prearranged time.
I am sure that this is what this article from a conservative media source wanting to present it in the worst possible way is referring to.
I am also sure that there were many times that Homeland Security employees worked more than 40 hours a week.
They have a hard job and I don't begrudge them having a little extra time with their families.

AFAIK, it’s not comp time. It’s free PTO.

Which… who cares? Private sector white collar jobs get perks like this all the time. At this point, most every company in my industry shuts down for at least a week between christmas and new years, with no ding to one’s individual pto. Some go for longer and I’ve heard of a few now doing a week in the summer, too.

 

[Valletta]

Just think how great it’ll be when the GOP finally drowns the government in the bathtub!

There are many abuses of power, far too many think they are above the will of the people. Those people in Washington are supposed to be our servants. Too often the protect each other instead of doing what is right. I've encountered a lot of dishonesty.

 

[Fantine]

I've encountered a lot of dishonesty.

Just wait...you ain't seen nothing yet.

 

[Pommer]

There are many abuses of power, far too many think they are above the will of the people. Those people in Washington are supposed to be our servants. Too often the protect each other instead of doing what is right. I've encountered a lot of dishonesty.

If so many employees of the federal government are like this, why have a federal government in the first place? (It seems like government only ever “makes things worse”)

 

[KCfromNC]

There are a lot who should go.

Can you list the jobs you'd like cut and the savings those cuts will bring? Be as specific as you'd like.

 

[Laodicean60]

I was a federal employee for 4 years. They have something called "comp time" instead of overtime

Usually given to management types.

 

[Fantine]

Usually given to management types.

Not in the Civil Service. Comp time is the only allowable compensation.
Homeland Security workers probably put in enough extra time to have "earned" those days.

 

[FAITH-IN-HIM]

There are many abuses of power, far too many think they are above the will of the people. Those people in Washington are supposed to be our servants. Too often the protect each other instead of doing what is right. I've encountered a lot of dishonesty.

As of 2023, the United States had 2.9 million civilian federal employees. The majority are not bureaucrats or holding cushy jobs. 99% of Federal employees are working to make America great.

The receptionist working at the local VA Hospital, who checks in veterans for health checkups at 7 am, is not a bureaucrat. Similarly, the border agent risking their life to apprehend drug dealers at the US southern border is not a bureaucrat. Additionally, the individual answering Helpdesk phone calls from citizens at the IRS is also not a bureaucrat. These are the majority of federal employee working in different federal department.

Defense and national security-related agencies account for nearly 71% of the entire civilian federal workforce outside of the US Postal Service. The Department of Veterans Affairs comprised over 20% of the entire federal workforce The next largest agencies were the Navy, Army and Department of Homeland Security.

Top Occupations

Over 310,000 employees in the federal government are in an occupation in the medical field. The medical field encompasses physicians, nurses, physical therapists, pharmacists, dental officers, veterinarians and many other public health occupations. For example, at the end of fiscal 2023, there were nearly 3,000 physical therapists at the Department of Veterans Affairs that help rehabilitate wounded warriors across the nation.

Another 300,000 federal employees occupy positions in the administrative and clerical services field. Occupations in this field range from program analysts and human resource managers to secretaries and facility managers. For example, surface maintenance specialists with the Department of the Army analyze problems with military equipment maintenance.

Some of the top hired occupations of fiscal 2023 included nurses, medical support assistants, compliance inspection and support, and contact representatives.

80% of federal employees worked outside of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area in fiscal 2023. One percent of the federal workforce was in foreign countries


If you encounter dishonesty by a federal employee, it likely involves only 5-10 people out of 3 million. Such statistics are too insignificant to justify downsizing federal employees.

 

[Valletta]

If so many employees of the federal government are like this, why have a federal government in the first place? (It seems like government only ever “makes things worse”)

The libertarian viewpoint is for an extremely limited government, and conservatives push for a much more limited government than liberals.

 

[Valletta]

Not in the Civil Service. Comp time is the only allowable compensation.
Homeland Security workers probably put in enough extra time to have "earned" those days.

The point is it was done in the last days of this administration, as were many other things, to make trouble for the incoming administration. When the next elections rolls around we need to remember what these people did.

 

[Fantine]

Believe me, I will remember what the Biden administration did--gratefully--and how he brought dignity and renewed relationships and respect with our allies after the 2016-2020 national nightmare.

 

[wing2000]

The point is it was done in the last days of this administration, as were many other things, to make trouble for the incoming administration. When the next elections rolls around we need to remember what these people did.

What trouble?

[other than granting government employees leave....are you really complaining about that??????]

 

[Say it aint so]

The point is it was done in the last days of this administration, as were many other things, to make trouble for the incoming administration. When the next elections rolls around we need to remember what these people did.

You mean like not having a transition at all?
2020 wasn't that long ago.
Surely you remember the things done to make trouble for the then incoming administration?
Did it bother you then?
Do you remember so "When the next elections rolls around we need to remember what these people did."
I mean just wow.

 

[Valletta]

You mean like not having a transition at all?
2020 wasn't that long ago.
Surely you remember the things done to make trouble for the then incoming administration?
Did it bother you then?
Do you remember so "When the next elections rolls around we need to remember what these people did."
I mean just wow.

Joe promised us he would unite the country and that there would be a smooth transition. The trafficked women and children need to be rescued without delay. Urge your leaders not to put up roadblocks.