By David Simmons
NORCROSS, Ga. | I was curious. I know that federal employees who continue to work during a government shutdown get full back pay within days of the shutdown ending. So what about TSA agents? Well, it turns out that they certainly ARE federal employees and will be paid for every single hour they work as well.
But first a little observation and opinion.
Any federal employee that has been on the job for any length of time and hasn’t prepared for government shutdowns by saving and having six months of living expenses liquid and available during situations like these are dumb as stumps.
Government shutdowns are inevitable! — a not-at-all secretive fact of life. It is not a matter of if, it is a matter of when. And it happens frequently.
Many say “Poor, poor pitiful government employees, can’t afford food or gas and aren’t able to pay their rent.” And even though they will eventually get paid, they lay out from work and whine and moan. Not working guarantees not getting paid for that period of time, putting them even further and deeper into a financial hole of their own making. Those that do this are so absolutely stupid they don’t deserve good paying Federal jobs. Any that don’t show up for work under these circumstances should be terminated with prejudice. Making them ineligible for rehire.
And the really dumb ones that have quit these good paying with wonderful benefits jobs on their own? Good riddance. Also ineligible for rehire for any Federal job.
Apologists will argue the poor, poor pitiful worker couldn’t save and prepare for government shutdowns for any number of reasons. Excuses for this situation are similar to excusing recidivism. One brings it on themselves.
Here is the Google explanation.
Yes, TSA agents working without pay during a government shutdown are legally guaranteed to receive full back pay once the shutdown ends and funding is restored. Under the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019, federal employees—both working and furloughed—receive their back pay at the earliest possible date after appropriations are restored.
When they get paid: Back pay is issued immediately after Congress passes an appropriation bill to reopen the government.
The struggle: While guaranteed pay, employees face immediate financial strain, with some struggling to pay for gas, childcare, food and rent.
(See? Even Google tries to compensate for the “some” too stupid to financially prepare for the inevitable shutdowns.)
Previous shutdowns: Employees have historically received their back pay within several days of the government reopening. While the paycheck is guaranteed, the timing of the legislation to end the shutdown determines when that back pay is finally received.
So, the reality is, beyond the left versus right squabbling causing the shutdown, the long TSA lines are really because of fiscally irresponsible agents demonstrating their lack of preparation for the inevitable. Woe is me!
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