The sequester supposedly made it necessary to lay off and reduce salaries of current border patrol officers. Why promise more when we aren’t supporting the ones we had? The answer: appearances and politics.
To be clear, no BP Agents were laid-off nor where their salaries reduced.
Overtime was reduced therefore the over-time pay (AUO) was reduced.
No one lost a GS pay-grade or step pay, and everyone that is a BP Agent kept their job. No one was laid-off.