The Secret Service can no longer 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.Let's not forget that Trump was the guy who was lambasting President Obama for taking too much time off. Also, Obama used Camp David, which is already a federally-protected facility and to which he could travel by helo. Trump's gotta jet off to Mar-a-Lago by 747.
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.
"The president has a large family, and our responsibility is required in law,'' Alles said. "I can't change that. I have no flexibility."
A great way to lose good people is by making them travel frequently and then not paying them, but offering them "comp time" that everyone knows will never be taken.
From Steve Benen's twitter:
ReplyDelete"I'd love a full accounting of what the cash-strapped Secret Service is indirectly paying Trump while protecting him."
-Doug in Oakland
We pay taxes which go to paying for SS, which is forced to rent expensive rooms in Shitler's properties, which Shitler travels to as often as possible, while planning to cut taxes on himself and his family...
ReplyDeleteNot a peep about "redistribution of wealth" to be heard anywhere, though.
Commandeer the golf carts. The Tower Suite.
ReplyDeleteAnd, not to mention, Shitler is now stiffing the guys that are sworn to take bullets for him... Perhaps they are suffering from a bit of malnutrition and lack of sleep... Hard to jump in front of a bullet under those circumstances. Who could argue with that?
ReplyDeletePerhaps the SS could protect the president* in direct proportion to the time he is actually Presidential? Like maybe, tops, 10%. And to work off their unpaid time and overtime, they could vacation free at any of Trump's resort, flown there by AF1? We could call it the Grateful Nation/Lonely Eyes initiative. Of course, Trump could walk the mile to the Trump International Hotel Washington DC (TM,SM) unescorted (though surely with the route lined by jeer...I mean cheering...crowds) to get his usual carbonized steak dinner.
ReplyDeleteOTOH, the thought of Trump trying to be more presidential is scary. Forget it.