SAN DIEGO (Border Report) — When the government shutdown began more than a month ago, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents and officers were not getting paid, but while that has changed in the past few weeks, CBP civilian staff continue to work with no compensation or have been furloughed altogether.
According to CBP, civilians take on jobs as management and program analysts, training range safety specialists, as well as other roles in areas such as intelligence, cybersecurity, and human resources.
A source tells Border Report these men and women are “a vital component” in their operations, adding that civilian staffers are not getting paid or have been furloughed, meaning they are laid off until the government shutdown ends and will likely not get any money retroactively.
The source also said some civilian workers with CBP are getting frustrated with not collecting a paycheck and are growing concerned with making their mortgage payments.
Others, they say, are turning to part-time jobs to help pay the bills.
When asked about frontline operations, he said those were not being impacted.
Border Report reached out to CBP about the number of civilians working for the agency nationwide, but those numbers were not readily available.
In San Diego, the figure is in “the hundreds,” according to the source.
There is no indication when the government shutdown might end and CBP’s civilian workforce will get paid again.
The shutdown is now into its second month.
Millions of Americans are in danger of losing access to free food as their health care benefits are set to expire.
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