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Homeland prepares budget cuts, up to 1,000 furloughs at Secret Service

By WTOP Staff

Bracing for the possibility of budget sequestration next month, the Homeland Security Department is making plans to furlough as many as 1,000 Secret Service agents, officers and others employees, officials say.

Homeland Security issued its first agency-wide memorandum late last week preparing for sequestration, the sweeping automatic budget cuts set to take effect as early as March 1 under a prior deal between the White House and Congress to reduce the deficit. The Feb. 6 memo advised all federal employees that the “department leadership is engaged in extensive planning efforts” determining how best to deal with the potential budget cuts.

The memo, obtained by the Washington Guardian, hints at specific areas DHS officials are looking to reduce costs, including “operational or administrative costs in areas such as travel, facilities, and supplies.”

DHS officials also warned that they may “have to consider placing employees on temporary furlough, or taking other personnel actions, should sequestration occur.  With respect to furloughs, all affected employees would be provided at least 30 days’ notice prior to executing a furlough.”

The Secret Service, which beyond protecting the president also investigates major financial crimes, is among the agency targeted for extensive furloughs. A Homeland Security official, with knowledge of the impending cuts, told the Washington Guardian that the Secret Service “is looking at reducing their forces by up to a thousand people” but added that “all federal agencies are facing drastic cuts if sequestration happens.”

Secret Service Spokesman Brian Leary said he could not comment on the agency’s sequestration preparations, referring all questions to the White House’s Office of Management and Budget.

OMB did not return numerous emails and calls seeking comment. DHS spokesman Peter Boogaard declined comment on the memo or impending cuts.

The details emerge as the Obama administration and Democrats try to pressure congressional Republicans to stop the sequestration cuts before they take effect, making public plans for specific cuts in national security program that long have been dear to the GOP. 

Although DHS officials have not officially released current plans to handle possible sequestration, Democrats on the House Appropriation’s Committee have.

A “Dear Colleague” letter, signed by former House Appropriation’s Committee ranking Democrat Norm Dicks, of Washington, in October, listed the Secret Service, among other agencies, which will have to make major cuts to balance their budget.

Dicks’ letter noted the Secret Service faces a reduction of 819 personnel “a cut to below FY 2006 force levels from current on-board levels which impacts the work of Special Agents, uniformed division officers, and protective detail personnel.”

Unlike the Defense Department, which has taken the lead in disclosing its plans to make $4 billion in drastic cuts, Department of Homeland Security officials have kept relatively quiet on their internal preparations for the March 1 deadline.

The DHS official, who was not authorized to speak on the matter, added that many agencies, including the Secret Service, have not authorized work “transfers due to the looming budget crisis and the cuts will reduce protective detail personnel.”

Beyond the reduction of personnel to Secret Service, the letter states that the DHS is facing personnel losses of more than 24,000, to include:

  • reduction of 3,400 Border Patrol agents to below FY 2009 levels.

  • reduce 7,403 U.S. Coast Guard personnel –facing force levels below FY 2006.

  • reduce 7,240 Transportation Security Officers

  • reduction of 932 Immigration and Customs Enforcement  “a decrease of this magnitude would significantly impact efforts to investigate crimes involving counter-proliferation, terrorism, and transnational threats.”

  • FEMA will see a reduction of 536 core personnel

  • $116.6 million cut to the Federal Air Marshals program.

Federal employees, however, are expected to report for work on March 1, regardless of sequestration. The Office of Personnel Management issued new supplemental guidelines for administrative furloughs on Jan. 11.

Even “under sequestration, agencies would still have funds available after March 1, but the overall funding for the remainder of the fiscal year would be reduced” and employees should still report to work on March 1, the OPM guidelines state.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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