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The FBI agents' union today issued a new letter asking Congress to pass a funding bill to reopen the Department of Justice so that its members can be paid.
They do not participate in the larger debate on border security between the White House and Congressional Democrats (unlike Border Patrol). Instead, they agree with the Democratic leaders (and some Republican senators): the important thing is to reopen the government – "the important work done by the Office must be funded immediately," they write – and allow negotiations on other issues to be pursued separately.
FBI special agents, like other members of the federal police, are considered "essential" and continue to work without pay during closed government periods. On Friday, January 11, their pay check will be officially missing for the first time, so it is urgent to proceed.
It is quite obvious that agents prefer to be paid rather than paid. But the letter raises two additional questions. The first is that if the families of the agents end up having credit problems because of a missing salary, it could be detrimental to their security. The other is that the FBI's ongoing operations have higher financial costs than the agents' salaries and the funds will be depleted.
See the full letter below:
We, the undersigned, are proud of the special agents of the FBI. Today, we are writing as volunteer leaders and chapter representatives of the FBI Agents Agents Association ("FBIAA"), a professional organization representing almost all active special agents. The FBIAA members elected us and we represent all the FBI Field Offices. We are the only dedicated voice of some 13,000 active FBI Special Agents, the vast majority of whom are members of the FBIAA.
On Friday, January 11, 2019, FBI agents will not be paid because of the partial closure of the government, but we will continue our work to protect our nation. We urge our elected representatives to fund the Department of Justice and the FBI because financial security is a national security issue:
1. Special FBI agents are subject to high security standards, including rigorous and systematic financial background checks, to ensure financial stability and accountability. Non-payment of debts may result in delays in obtaining or renewing security checks and even preventing agents from continuing to serve in certain cases.
2. FBI operations require funding. As the closure continues, the special agents remain at work for the American people without being paid, and the FBI leadership is doing everything in its power to fund its operations with increasingly limited resources – this situation is not happening. Is not sustainable. Significant work done by the Office must be immediately funded.
3. Uncertainty jeopardizes the FBI's ability to recruit and retain high-level professionals. Special agents are qualified professionals who have a variety of jobs in the private sector. The persistent financial insecurity caused by the lack of FBI funding could lead some FBI agents to consider more stable career options for their families.
The men and women of the FBI proudly serve this country and are honored to protect it. and Constitution of all threats, foreign and national. We are confident that our leaders share this commitment to protect our country and find a way forward to fund the DOJ and the FBI. As protagonists in the fight against criminals and terrorists, we urge that financial insecurity undermines national security. stopping as a tactic. However, the Border Patrol is not the only law enforcement agency working without pay, and law enforcement in general is a major riding in Trump. Such open clashes with the direct and material interests of grassroots agents are a risky scenario for Trump.
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