Secret Service out of money to pay agents because of Trump's frequent travel, large family

[highplainsdem]

Source: USA Today

WASHINGTON — The Secret Service can no longer afford to pay hundreds of agents it needs to carry out an expanded protective mission – in large part due to the sheer size of President Trump's family and efforts necessary to secure their multiple residences up and down the East Coast.

Secret Service Director Randolph "Tex'' Alles, in an interview with USA TODAY, said more than 1,000 agents have already hit the federally mandated caps for salary and overtime allowances that were meant to last the entire year.

The agency has faced a crushing workload since the height of the contentious election season, and it has not relented in the first seven months of the administration. Agents must protect Trump – who has traveled almost every weekend to his properties in Florida, New Jersey and Virginia – and his adult children whose business trips and vacations have taken them across the country and overseas.

-snip-

Overwork and constant travel has also been driving a recent exodus from the Secret Service ranks, yet without congressional intervention to provide additional funding, Alles will not even be able pay agents for the work they have already done.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/08/21/secret-service-cant-pay-agents-because-trumps-frequent-travel-large-family/529075001/

[Renew Deal]

1. They should be getting paid

Hopefully this can be remediated

[forgotmylogin]

45. You know how the Rs think about overtime. (n/t)

[Renew Deal]

51. I hope they can't be forced to work without pay

[Scarsdale]

2. Why can't they

pay for their own security, since they brag about how wealthy they are? What a HUGE mistake the gop has made. We have an unqualified, childish president, his useless family of misfits all on taxpayer $$$. Making America BROKE again should be their mantra. Once they are convicted, hopefully at least SOME of their boasts about their wealth will prove true, so we can replenish the treasury that they are bleeding dry. Can anyone testify that they are WORTH all this protection? The gop proves on a daily basis that they do not care for this country. They stand by the worst example of a patriot EVER to occupy (part time) the WH. Is the Russian money STILL rolling in for the tRumps and the gop?

[FakeNoose]

25. Trump feels great about this

This was posted on DU in early April, when our national nightmare had just begun:

[ehrnst]

36. It would have to be Secret Service, because private security only answers to their boss.

Yeah, reimbursing the gov't for their pay would be a good first step.

[Sunlei]

3. why won't those hundreds of "republican charities" pay for their presidents lavish lifestyle?

1,000 agents for one presidents family?

[ck4829]

4. They shouldn't need money. Their payment is the honor they'll feel to serve their...

Something.

[Not Ruth]

5. Does this mean that they will not have money to guard the 2020 Democratic candidate

Because anyone can see where this is going

[IronLionZion]

29. Things are going really dark

and our party should be prepared for anything. Like private security guards for our candidate

[milestogo]

6. Trump should be footing the bill

instead of wasting millions of taxpayer dollars.

[NCjack]

19. Oh goodie. Ryan and McConnell get this problem. Time to clip #45's wings. nt

[Cosmocat]

46. God darned straight and if a D had even one isolated issue

that saw a bump in SS protection, they would have passed legislation requiring the first family to foot the bill past a certain limit a week into his or her term ...

[obamachangetheworld]

53. Exactly!

He kept bragging about how rich he was and wouldn't cost taxpayers money, it's time to force him to eat those words!

[defacto7]

69. I agree that he should foot the bill... but...

It seems to me people aren't doing the math. I've said it before and I'll say it again...

Trump has no money! He has assets that he controls, he has the power to keep people under control, but he has no worth. His debt ourweigh his assets probably multiple times. He has. High dealing multi billionaires who he owes bigtime and he may have the goods on them and that is what keeps him in his Gucci. But he doesnt have cash he can repay the government with. That's why he lives off the high hog on taxpayer money. It's easy money for the lifestyle he accustomed to and he's the potus so who's going to stop him?
When his shit his the fan, his assets will go to legal defense and paying corporate business debts and there won't be anything left for the many people he's bilked over the years and certainly not the debt he owes the us government.
Just another orange jumpsuit with a number when that's sorted out and we citizens will have been stripped and pinched.

[Dustlawyer]

7. Maybe Congress wants him without protection so they can get rid of him

and martyr him at the same time!

[Historic NY]

8. Maybe they can use the wall money to build one to enclose Trump.

[Tanuki]

9. They also seem to regard these incomparably trained Secret Service agents

as free baby sitters and chauffeurs. There was a minor incident involving one of Don Jr.'s very young kids while he was being driven, unaccompanied by either parent, from suburban New York (Westchester IIRC) into Manhattan. The child was much younger than the age at which one would typically go into the city independently and I wondered if it was more a matter of convenience and privilege than security. This is obviously happening daily, as well as all of that international travel.

[thesquanderer]

10. Maybe this gives Trump a personal reason to get the debt ceiling raised. (n/t)

[rurallib]

11. can't we just cut some programs for the poor or maybe Meals on Wheels

to protect the traitor's exorbitant lifestyle?

for the humor impaired

[NCjack]

20. Maybe Navy operations can take a trim, now that they have 2 destroyers out-of-service.

[BumRushDaShow]

12. They will probably add that extra $$$

quietly in what will most likely be a CR for fiscal year 2018 appropriations.

[IADEMO2004]

13. Issue Secret Service Security Vouchers for Trump Family

Average annual spending of last five presidents adjust for inflation (using social security COLA) and spending over that amount billed to Trumps.

[Amimnoch]

16. LOL! now there's an idea!

Thread winner imo.

[Paka]

23. Good one!

[CrispyQ]

57. Excellent idea!

[muriel_volestrangler]

14. We could take the money from the increased Mar a Lago fees. Or the foreign govt DC Trump hotel bills

that are putting money into his pockets. Or get some from the Kushner family who use the family connection in their marketing for the Chinese visa scam. With all the profiteering Trump and his family are doing, there ought to be enough to cover their security.

[SHRED]

42. Bingo

[saidsimplesimon]

15. Great catch highplains

You beat me to it. Thank you

[dalton99a]

17. Fucking grifters

[Bladewire]

18. Trump should donate his salary to the secret service instead of charity.

[Plucketeer]

32. I'd bet....

Dump's annual salary wouldn't cover a DAY'S security expenses.

[Bladewire]

64. Ha! Good point lol

[atreides1]

21. Donald, Eric, and Ivanka should decline the protection!

Any of his adult children may decline Secret Service protection, but being the spoiled brats they are, they won't!

[Corgigal]

22. That's what I think

America has no need for any of them. They aren't kids, so push them out of our nest and cut our loses.

[More_Cowbell]

50. Trump's adult children won't deny protection because the SS stays in Trump properties

So besides losing the "prestige" of having security, the family would also lose that revenue. Grifters, all. I thought the Palins were bad!

[IronLionZion]

24. Yet, I'm still seeing ads on DU to join the Secret Service

I certainly wouldn't want to join up while this family is fleecing America.

Maybe they'll provide some tax cuts to fix this problem and cut government spending some more on what little is left on program that help people. Watch Dumbo donate his salary this month to the Secret Service, as if that will make up for the millions it costs them to protect his family.

[saidsimplesimon]

26. Phoenix

http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/346903-phoenix-mayor-tells-trump-to-delay-his-rally

Mayor wants Trump to delay Phoenix rally

By John Bowden - 08/16/17

The mayor of Phoenix, Ariz., issued a statement Wednesday night urging President Trump to delay his campaign-style rally in the city while "our nation is still healing" from the violence that took place in Charlottesville, Va., over the weekend.

“It is my hope that more sound judgment prevails and that he delays his visit," Mayor Greg Stanton (D) said in a statement, also saying he is "disappointed" with the president.

[progressoid]

28. "more sound judgment prevails"

more sound judgment .... Bwahahahahaha

[saidsimplesimon]

30. code word judgment

45 shows little to none

[dobleremolque]

27. Stiffing the tradesmen and servants is a long

and dishonorable Trump family tradition. He's brought it to the White House.

[kairos12]

31. Borrow some Putin's security agents.

[James48]

33. By law....

By law, no Federal Employee can be paid more than roughly $174,000 a year, with very few exceptions.

If the Agents hit that cap before the end of the year, then legally they CANNOT be assigned to work any more, because they cannot be paid.

Great.

Just park his ass in the White House and tell him he can't go anywhere until next year.

[BigmanPigman]

34. IF he were smart he'd stop pissing so many people off

all the time or he is going to get hurt. It seems like he is asking for it. He needs the Secret Service for this reason more than any other president on the past 100 years since he is so intensely a hated.

[PatSeg]

35. Maybe Trump could get Erik Prince

to provide protection for his family.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

43. That's probably where this is heading.

WIN for the president and family.
WIN for Eric Prince (and his family).
WIN for the American taxpayers.

Ok, well, not so much a win for the taxpayers.

[PatSeg]

54. If Prince's mercenaries

aren't tied up in Afghanistan. Just privatize everything. What could possibly go wrong?

[Efilroft Sul]

44. Exactly what I was thinking.

And Trump's free-market security force could be about going on the offense as much as providing defense.

[PatSeg]

55. Oh yes

He would love to be protected by violent thugs. "Get 'em out of here, get 'em out of here! Don't worry, I'll pay your legal fees."

[Bayard]

37. Rump is probably hoping

They will cut the Obama family's protection to pay for his.....

[yuiyoshida]

38. Trump must think its good to be the King

[DFW]

39. Please please please

Let the Republicans in Congress hold up their noses and say they are for fiscal responsibility, and refuse to further fund the Secret Service due to its cost overruns and the "indefensible burden on the American Taxpayer."

But Trump needn't worry. As long as the alternative is Pence, no one will even throw a paper airplane in his direction. Well, Mitch McConnell or Steve Bannon, maybe, come to think of it.

[Cosmocat]

47. If there was a D POTUS and he or she had a fraction of 45s expanded protection services

they would have been apocalyptic about it and passed legislation to force them to foot the bill past a certain amount a week into his or her term ...

[spooky3]

48. I was wondering when all those stout conservatives

would take action on this. I'm sure it'll happen first thing tomorrow.

[DFW]

49. It'll be in all the headlines

Right under the appearance of Godot.

[eggplant]

40. He's just being a job creator!

*snerk*

[greatauntoftriplets]

41. Secret Service should be getting combat pay for protecting the drumpfs.

[DFW]

63. I dunno--Pence must be pretty good life insurance

The bigger threat to them is more likely to be dying of boredom than from some would-be assassin.

[obamachangetheworld]

52. We need to demand he covers their salaries with his money not taxpayers! n/t

[iamateacher]

56. There's more than one issue here

Morale for the Secret Service is among the lowest of any government agency. Recruiting is very selective and training for a new agent is very intensive, expensive, and lasts more than 6 months. By the end of the training, the agent is highly qualified and can easily get a job elsewhere...which they are doing, in droves....so retention is a real issue. They are trying to keep the agents, but with limited overtime, many end up working crazy hours for no pay because they have maxed out. They are maxed out because they can't retain agents, or train them fast enough.

[Runningdawg]

58. SS is for wimps

hand 45 a 45 and tell him he is on his own!

[fierywoman]

59. Like the axed agents in Russia --

Think of all the money the US would save if the SS stopped protecting the extended T-rump family!

[moondust]

62. "were going to save a lot of money"

[Vinca]

60. And I bet a whole lot of them didn't want to take a bullet for Don before!

[briv1016]

61. Maybe he was unhappy with the work they did.

[muriel_volestrangler]

65. "The Secret Service has spent some $60,000 on golf cart rentals alone this year to protect Trump"

"at both Mar-a-Lago and Bedminster. " It's the kind of farce that make you nauseous rather than happy.

[spiderpig]

66. Out of money after 6 months???

Great job, Mr. Businessman.

[sandensea]

67. To say nothing of the rents they've been forced to pay to Cheeto himself.

I've lost count; but it's in the millions.

[Demonaut]

68. he'll go to private security, praetorian guard

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

70. Repunlikkklans: he party of fiscal responsibility.