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Return to Article: DHS seeks shift in funds to cover Federal Protective Service shortfall

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  We're all in danger of losing money to pay for the ineptitude of our current government. At DFAS, the entire agency is being cut in half due to BRAC, Lean6 and other ridiculous "initiatives." We have more SESers than we need but it's those of us in the trenches who will be downgraded, RIF'd, and receive less pay. These are scary times to be a government employee.

  GovExec.com reader Posted August 11, 2006 7:30 AM
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  While I agree after reading the comments/ frustration of the ICE/OI agent, I would like to add that FPS is way beyond another "investigation." It is no secret that for years FPS has been treated like the step child agency, and has not has not been funded like any other government agency. Yes, something has to be done. Congress has to stop this "pay as you go" madness, fully fund FPS with a true operating budget, and remove FPS from ICE, (since we have no remote correlation to immigration or customs enforcement). We simply provide protection to the very federal office building (that this agent, and every other government employee, resides in.) No other agency duplicates, or more importantly has the jurisdiction to provide these services. FPS is a bargain for the government since 1,100 officers protect 8,000 facilities throughout the nation. The shame is that the experts didn't see it that way, and failed to provide adequate funding to continue a safe post 9/11 working environment, just not themselves, but for every other federal employee.

  GovExec.com reader Posted August 7, 2006 4:01 PM
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  If there's anyone who doesn't think that this merits a full and complete OIG and GAO audit/investigation or congressional hearings (with criminal charges as required), then you're more out of touch with reality than anyone can imagine.

  As you may have noticed, I post less and less to this website, mainly because I'm increasingly spending my very valuable free time on working to bail out of this disaster of an agency. My ICE/OI SAC was recently put on notice that main DHS will be seeking a large chunk of our fourth quarter fiscal 2006 funds to help bail out FPS, an entity with as much in common with ICE/OI as an elephant has with a fish. Will someone please tell me why ICE/OI is constantly punished having to bail out other DHS components from their financial malfeasance, while leaving us with squat to do our jobs? Am I missing something here, or is there something literally criminal with this picture?

  Supremely pathetic, shameful and disgraceful; I get sick just reading this trash.

  GovExec.com reader Posted July 19, 2006 8:45 PM
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  The biggest problem here is the fact that an agency that basically provides security for federal properties (FPS) was placed into another agency tasked with conducting immigration and customs investigations (ICE). One has absolutely nothing to do with the other! This has been pointed out time and time again, yet the "geniuses" who came up with DHS repeatedly ignored expert advice, and haphazardly threw together agencies which had nothing in common (INS and Customs 1811 criminal investigators, FAMS, and FPS), which resulted in the massive confusion, budget problems, lack of mission and focus, and non-existent morale at ICE today. DHS finally moved FAMS back to TSA, but still left FPS in ICE. In addition, the experience of the past three years has shown how little immigration and customs investigations have in common, despite this forced merger. It's way past time to correct these massive mistakes!

  Are you listening, Mr. Chertoff?

  GovExec.com reader Posted July 19, 2006 3:40 PM