[USNBandit]

Part of the reason BP needs to cut back is that those agents cost more money than they did in 2011. The BP union fought for, and won, a pay grade increase for their line agents to GS-12. Without a federal budget it has been difficult finding the money to pay for that increase.

[Politicalmom]

If they have money to waste on studies to find out why lesbians are fat, they have enough money to properly secure the borders.

[usurper]

Not mentioned in the article is that in addition to the staffing cut backs. Because of sequester the existing agents have been siting at home one day every pay period. That is 21,000 work days every two weeks that are not being conducted.

In addition the agents generally receive 10 hours of AUO “administavive uncontrolled overtime” a week. The administration is cutting back on the overtime and looking to eliminate it. That will be 10 hours times 21,000 fewer hours the border is patrolled each week.

Since AUO equals 25% of an agents pay and is counted in his retirement. Look for a mass exodus of any agent eligible to retire and the rest will be looking for somewhere else to go.