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TSA Employees In Santa Clarita Feel Impact Of The Government Shutdown

As the government shutdown is about to enter its fifth week, a Santa Clarita resident employed with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) gave his perspective of how the shutdown has affected him and the agency.


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TSA and the Department of Homeland Security have been without funding since Dec. 22, 2018, when the government shutdown initially began, according to the agency.

At least 51,000 TSA screening officers are considered essential employees and are expected to continue to work without pay, indefinitely, according to TSA officials.

“Work has been the biggest impact (of the shutdown). Lots of strife and division over what’s happening; some trying to stay positive, others determined to make everyone else as miserable as they are,” said a Santa Clarita TSA employee who requested to remain anonymous. “But what’s really been the biggest difference is the societal outreach we’ve had. Organizations around the area bringing us lunches, passengers extending their condolences and thanking us, just an overall sense of community trying to lift us up during this tumultuous time.”

Since Dec. 22, TSA employees have only missed one paycheck, with the next check not due until Jan. 28 under normal circumstances.

“Financially, the shutdown hasn’t had much of an impact, only one missed paycheck,” said the TSA employee. “I have enough saved up that I can hold out a few more months, but like most people, I have obligations that must be filled.”

While the local TSA employee hasn’t been severely impacted by the first missed check, the lack of pay has contributed to an increase in call-outs across some of the largest airports in the nation, including Atlanta, Miami, and Houston, among others.

However, the Santa Clarita TSA employee we spoke to said he hasn’t seen operations impacted at Los Angeles International Airport.

“At my terminal at least, attendance is at an all-time high,” said the TSA employee.

On Jan. 11, TSA Administrator David Pekoske announced that the agency had found funding to compensate employees that worked Dec. 22, the day the shutdown began, by no later than Jan. 15.

Pekoske also announced that airport screening officers who worked during the holiday season will receive a $500 bonus.

“While I realize this is not what you are owed for your hard work during pay period 26 and what you deserve, I hope these actions alleviate some of the financial hardship many of you are facing,” Pekoske wrote.

Ed. Note: CNN contributed to this report.

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TSA Employees In Santa Clarita Feel Impact Of The Government Shutdown

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About Wyatt Smith

Wyatt was born and raised in Santa Clarita. After graduating from Hart High School in 2012, he continued his studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he earned a degree in applied statistics. After a year and a half working in the digital advertising industry, Wyatt left his previous field of work to pursue his interest in writing.