Secret Service agents don't get paid during shutdown

[Cyrano]

Time for a sickout?

[onenote]

1. Not going to happen.

I'm going to guess you don't know any secret service agents.

[treestar]

2. Hard to work when you are not getting paid

How do you motivate?

[onenote]

9. If you think that secret service agents are motivated by money

Again, I'm going to assume you don't know any secret service agents -- at least not the ones on the presidential detail.

[USALiberal]

11. Silly. Same for police and fireman and soldiers? At some point everyone needs money. nt

[onenote]

12. sure. everyone needs money.

But money isn't the "motivation" for being a secret service agent as opposed to do something else. I have known several secret service agents, including a couple on the presidential detail, and there isn't a chance in the world that they would do their job with any less than a full commitment, even if their paychecks were being delayed.

[Hekate]

23. I think you are right, onenote. It would take a lot to break that dedication....

I think what some people (and certainly Trump) fail to grasp is that the oath and the loyalty are to the office and not the individual who currently occupies it.

[ADX]

26. 100% correct...

...Money isn't the primary motivator for Secret Service personnel, especially those on the Presidential Protection Detail.

[PJMcK]

30. You've made excellent points in this thread

Thanks for keeping it real, onenote.

I used to know a Secret Service agent who worked in the counterfeiting division. These professionals are dedicated and my sense was that the Service is entirely non-political.

[treestar]

19. I don't know any of them

But they have bills too.

And what of all the other, less glamorous, "little guy" employees?

I would take out "income replacement" insurance - have heard of that, and it might be available and worth it if you work in the federal government.

[onenote]

20. No question that this is a hardship. But I think federal employees quitting due to the shutdown

or, in the case of essential employees, not performing their jobs to the best of their ability is unlikely.

As I pointed out elsewhere, its not as if trying to get a new job is that easy in the best of times and right now, it would be a pretty risky proposition if you believe we are on the cusp of a recession.

[customerserviceguy]

33. Well, "income replacement" insurance

would be saving money to get you through two or three months of a mammoth-class shutdown. If history tells us that back pay eventually comes through, then that's how you replenish the depletion of that fund.

It's just part of the cost of taking a government job.

[pandr32]

29. But tRump isn't a real president

He's a mobster.

[liberal N proud]

3. That is what sucks

But they are very committed to their job. You would have to be to protect the orange ass.

[getagrip_already]

4. essential employees get paid in every agency......

regardless of the shutdown. While some ss employees will be furloughed, those protecting gov't sites and workers won't be.

[Massacure]

7. Government employees who work don't get paid until the shutdown ends

Government employees who do not work don't get paid at all, unless Congress specifically decides to pay them.

[getagrip_already]

14. not true....

Employees classified as essential retain full pay and benefits. I've worked through shutdowns as a contractor alongside guvvies and they received paychecks.

[Ms. Toad]

16. They do not get paid during the shut-down.

They are guaranteed retroactive pay (unlike those deemed non-essential - who have always gotten paid but there is no guarantee).

However, there are certain segments of government (and many contractors) who are already funded - and who will be paid during the shutdown. (In this instance, defense, labor, education and health and human services). Departments who are fully funded are not impacted by the shut-down.

[getagrip_already]

34. It's complicated, but...

All agencies maintain an operating reserve they can use during a shutdown. Money that was appropriated and authorized by congress.

I worked with one agency (a large one) that was able to remain fully staffed for weeks before furloughing non-essential workers.

They had enough money to continue to pay essential employees for months if it came to that.

They all got paychecks. Congress wasn't born yesterday, and neither were the agencies. They simply aren't going to break the law by requiring workers to show up and not get paid, and they aren't going to send home security guards or IT professionals or intelligence assets.

Eventually, cash on hand will dry up, but congress would over ride any veto to maintain essential personnel.

They will get paychecks if they work.

[former9thward]

35. They DO get paid.

They always have. Name a shut down when they were not paid. The Senate has already passed a bill for them to b e paid.

[beachbum bob]

5. perhaps not jump in front of the president??

[PJMcK]

31. That seems unlikely and a bit snarky about these professionals

The Secret Service is probably the most non-political of all parts of our government.

Any agent would still jump in front of any president. They are truly committed to their responsibilities.

[elocs]

6. Kind of sounds like something those on the right would say during an Obama shutdown.

We're better than that.
Well, maybe not.

[2naSalit]

8. I hope someone told him that

and it scared him into staying home for xmas!

All those oligarchs assembling at MAGA-lago and he's decided not to go, things are looking like all this reality is getting to him. I wonder if they'll get more annoyed with him for bailing. Maybe he caught wind that his money-laundering, crime peddling ways have upset the cabal and they were planning an intervention because they can see he's about to get busted and they will be exposed too.

[MineralMan]

10. Well, I'm thinking that being a Secret Service agent probably

looks pretty good on a resume, somehow. Perhaps some of them will consider seeking a more stable employer.

[onenote]

22. Given the current state of the economy, what is a more stable employer?

Continuing to work for the federal government likely gives one greater job security than quitting, trying to find a new job, and hoping the economy doesn't crash and you find yourself part of the first round of layoffs.

[Polybius]

13. I'm pretty sure even a cheap bastard like Trump gives each agent huge Christmas bonuses

Even he knows who you must keep happy.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

17. I seriously doubt that.

First off, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if there weren't some regulations or even laws that specifically forbid secret service agents from accepting gratuities. Second, do you really thing Trump would spend a penny of his own money for anything like that?

[Polybius]

18. There might be a law, but who's gonna tell if the President gives it to them?

Trump is cheap bastard, but even he knows the SS protect him. Gotta at least make them happy. Now, that doesn't still mean he's any less evil. Even Chapo gave money away to some people.

All I know is this. If I were President, I'd kiss their asses. Now, I know he's not the billionaire that he says he is, but he's still a lot richer than most.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

24. I expect most of the Secret Service agents

are reasonably honorable people and would know the law/regulation and refuse. But really, to point out that Trump is a cheap bastard doesn't even begin to cover it. He never spends a penny of his own if he can possibly avoid it. If his Trump Foundation hadn't been shut down, he might have used money from that, but given that he routinely doesn't even pay people what he owes them, there is no way the concept of a bonus probably doesn't even exist for him. To him, the Secret Service are merely servants. He wouldn't kiss anyone's ass.

[lame54]

15. Would you, as a dedicated Secret Service agent,...

Take a bullet for Trump?

[onenote]

21. The question answers itself.

If you are a dedicated Secret Service agent you take a bullet for the president no matter who he or she is. If you aren't willing to do so, you get a different job.

[lame54]

25. Wouldn't it be easier...

To ask for reassignment

[ADX]

28. Again, 100% correct...

...You take a bullet for the Office, not the personality.

[WeekiWater]

27. They will get theirs.

Stinks that it will be delayed. I bet a higher percentage of them who are married are the sole money makers in the family compared to the population as a whole. While they get paid wel it becomes a bigger issue in that situation.

[PJMcK]

32. I wish Trump had gone to his stupid resort

A couple of pictures of him golfing while his protective service chases him around without being paid.

It would have made interesting optics.

[former9thward]

36. They get paid.

All federal employees get paid after the shutdown ends. Shutdowns have occurred with every president since Carter. This is not the first rodeo for the federal government. Most shutdowns are over so quickly no one even has a regular paycheck delayed.