Not paying DHS employees is 'unconscionable,' former DHS secretaries say in letter to President Donald Trump, Congress

Former DHS Secretaries urged Congress to fund the Department

ByLuke Barr
January 23, 2019, 9:40 PM

Five former Homeland Security secretaries sent a letter to President Donald Trump and members of Congress Wednesday, on day 33 of the partial government shutdown, urging funding for the department.

Former DHS secretaries Tom Ridge, Michael Chertoff, Janet Napolitano, Jeh Johnson and John Kelly, who is also the president's former chief of staff, signed the letter.

PHOTO: The seal of the US Department of Homeland Security in the US Customs and Border Protection Press Room at the Reagan Building in Washington, DC., March 6, 2017.
The seal of the US Department of Homeland Security in the US Customs and Border Protection Press Room at the Reagan Building in Washington, DC., March 6, 2017.
Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images, FILE

They wrote that Homeland Security is no different than the Defense Department in that they work hand in hand to keep the nation safe. The department is responsible for funding agencies like the U.S. Coast Guard, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Customs and Border Protection.

Five former @DHSgov Secretaries sign a letter calling on Trump and Congress to fund the agency to relieve DHS national security personnel from their financial hardship.

"This is unconscionable."

Full letter h/t @LukeLBarr pic.twitter.com/0Kh3olzcP3

— Quinn Owen (@quinn_owen) January 24, 2019

"While we are heartened to learn that communities, businesses and religious organizations around the country are providing assistance to DHS employees, this cannot and should not be the answer," the secretaries wrote.

The group said that the department risks losing talented men and women, but shouldn't rely on charity from others. They also pointed out that members of the Coast Guard, by law, cannot quit or seek full-time, outside employment.

"This is unconscionable," they wrote.

The Senate is scheduled to hold its first votes on bills to end the government shutdown since December when the budget first ran out without a compromise reached and federal doors began to close. But the proposals -- one from Democrats and one from Republicans -- were not expected to pass. The two sides remain at a political impasse.

"We call on our elected leaders to restore the funding necessary to ensure our homeland remains safe and that the Department’s critical national security functions continue without compromise," the secretaries wrote.

ABC News Live

ABC News Live

24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events

\"While we are heartened to learn that communities, businesses and religious organizations around the country are providing assistance to DHS employees, this cannot and should not be the answer,\" the secretaries wrote.

The group said that the department risks losing talented men and women, but shouldn't rely on charity from others. They also pointed out that members of the Coast Guard, by law, cannot quit or seek full-time, outside employment.

\"This is unconscionable,\" they wrote.

The Senate is scheduled to hold its first votes on bills to end the government shutdown since December when the budget first ran out without a compromise reached and federal doors began to close. But the proposals -- one from Democrats and one from Republicans -- were not expected to pass. The two sides remain at a political impasse.

\"We call on our elected leaders to restore the funding necessary to ensure our homeland remains safe and that the Department’s critical national security functions continue without compromise,\" the secretaries wrote.

","publishedDate":"2019-01-24T02:40:00Z","contributors":[{"name":"Luke Barr","url":"https://abcnews.go.com/author/luke_barr","role":"","logo":"","logoAlt":""}],"modifiedDate":"2019-01-24T12:40:59Z","section":"Politics","wordCount":329,"relatedTags":{"heading":"Related Topics","tags":[]},"lead":{"ratio":"16x9","disableForMobile":false,"type":"xl","mediaType":"video","alignCaptionToBody":true},"ads":{"Sticky":{"kvps":{"test":true}},"RightRail":{"kvps":{"test":true}},"InlineBox":{},"InlineOutstream":{"disabled":false},"Taboola":{"position":"bottom","pageType":"article","config":{"network":"abcnews-abcnews","mode":"thumbnails-a","container":"taboola-below-article-thumbnails","type":"article","targetType":"mix","placement":"Below Article Thumbnails"}}},"featuredVideo":{"id":"60591841","type":"video","locator":"https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/News/video/trump-agrees-postpone-state-union-amid-shutdown-60591841","shortLocator":"https://gma.abc/2FV43KB","issued":"2019-01-24T12:14:03Z","created":"2019-01-24T12:14:03Z","modified":"2019-01-24T12:45:17Z","date":"2019-01-24T12:14:03Z","keywords":["President Trump","Nancy Pelosi","state of the union address","government shutdown","postponed","GMA","Video","60591841"],"section":"GMA","title":"Trump agrees to postpone State of the Union amid shutdown","headline":"Trump agrees to postpone State of the Union amid shutdown","shortHeadline":"Trump agrees to postpone State of the Union amid shutdown","linkHeadline":"Trump agrees to postpone State of the Union amid shutdown","description":"President Trump now says it is House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's \"prerogative\" and he will \"do the address when the shutdown is over.\"","leadInText":"President Trump now says it is House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's \"prerogative\" and he will \"do the address when the shutdown is over.\"","duration":164000,"contents":{"image":{"id":"60592355","created":"2019-01-24T12:09:03Z","modified":"2019-01-24T12:09:22Z","credit":"ABCNews.com","crops":[{"name":"raw","ratio":"16x9","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/190124_gma_bruce3_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg"},{"name":"12x5","ratio":"12x5","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/190124_gma_bruce3_hpMain_12x5_992.jpg"},{"name":"16x9","ratio":"16x9","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/190124_gma_bruce3_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg"},{"name":"1x1","ratio":"1x1","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/190124_gma_bruce3_hpMain_1x1_992.jpg"},{"name":"4x3","ratio":"4x3","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/190124_gma_bruce3_hpMain_4x3_992.jpg"},{"name":"4x5","ratio":"4x5","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/190124_gma_bruce3_hpMain_4x5_992.jpg"}],"description":"VIDEO: Trump agrees to postpone State of the Union amid shutdown"},"playlist":[{"id":"60591841","type":"video","streams":{"m3u8":{"16x9":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2019/01/190124_gma_bruce_0701_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8"}}},{"id":"60580555","type":"video","streams":{"m3u8":{"16x9":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2019/01/190123_tbr_coast_guard_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8"}}},{"id":"60571611","type":"video","streams":{"m3u8":{"16x9":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2019/01/190123_abcnl_debrief_wpvi_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8"}}},{"id":"60535896","type":"video","streams":{"m3u8":{"16x9":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2019/01/190122_atm_marshall_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8"}}}]},"streams":{"m3u8":{"16x9":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2019/01/190124_gma_bruce_0701_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8"}},"transcript":{"webVtt":"https://abcnews.go.com/video/caption?id=60591841"},"alertTag":"GovernmentShutdown","sectionRoot":"GMA","adFlag":true,"noAds":false,"isAmbient":false,"sponsored":false,"hideDate":false,"hideReportTypo":false},"featuredImage":null,"dateline":"","seo":{"JSONLD":{"videoObject":{"name":"Trump agrees to postpone State of the Union amid shutdown","description":"President Trump now says it is House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's \"prerogative\" and he will \"do the address when the shutdown is over.\"","uploadDate":"2019-01-24T12:14:03Z","thumbnailUrl":["https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/190124_gma_bruce3_hpMain_1x1_992.jpg?w=384","https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/190124_gma_bruce3_hpMain_4x3_992.jpg?w=384","https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/190124_gma_bruce3_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg?w=384"],"url":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2019/01/190124_gma_bruce_0701_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8","contentUrl":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2019/01/190124_gma_bruce_0701_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8","publisher":{"name":"ABC News","logo":{"url":"","@type":"ImageObject"},"@type":"Organization"},"mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","id":"https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/News/video/trump-agrees-postpone-state-union-amid-shutdown-60591841"},"duration":"PT2M44S"}}},"LivePromotion":{}},"autoUpdate":{"enabled":false,"topics":["general-elections-2020-balance-of-power"]}},"upw":{"balanceOfPower":{"electoral":{"header":"Biden Projected to be President-Elect","candidates":{"democrats":{"id":1036,"displayName":"Joe Biden","shortDisplayName":"J. Biden","firstName":"Joe","lastName":"Biden","party":"democrats","major":true,"incumbent":false,"winner":true,"votes":306},"republicans":{"id":8639,"displayName":"Donald Trump","shortDisplayName":"D. Trump","firstName":"Donald","lastName":"Trump","party":"republicans","major":true,"incumbent":true,"winner":false,"votes":232},"other":{"displayName":"Other","votes":0}},"parties":{"democrats":"democrats","republicans":"republicans"},"type":"electoral","votes":{"democrats":{"available":{},"total":306,"difference":{},"popular":{"displayValue":"81,283,098","value":81283098}},"republicans":{"available":{},"total":232,"difference":{},"popular":{"displayValue":"74,222,958","value":74222958}},"other":{"available":{},"total":0,"popular":{}},"total":538},"needed":{"displayText":"270 to win","displayValue":"270","value":270},"lastUpdated":{"value":"2020-12-18T21:15:13.850Z","displayValue":"December 18, 4:15:13PM ET"},"reporting":"99% of Expected Vote Reporting"},"senate":{"header":"Senate Seat Results","candidates":{"democrats":{"displayName":"Democrats","icon":"party-democrats","votes":46,"winner":false},"republicans":{"displayName":"Republicans","icon":"party-republicans","votes":50,"winner":false},"other":{"displayName":"Other","votes":2}},"parties":{"democrats":"democrats","republicans":"republicans"},"type":"senate","votes":{"democrats":{"available":{"displayText":"12 Democrats up for election","shortDisplayText":"12 Dems. up for election","displayValue":"12","value":12},"total":46,"difference":{"displayText":"Gained 1 seat","displayValue":"1","value":1},"popular":{}},"republicans":{"available":{"displayText":"23 Republicans up for election","shortDisplayText":"23 Reps. up for election","displayValue":"23","value":23},"total":50,"difference":{"displayText":"Lost 1 seat","displayValue":"-1","value":-1},"popular":{}},"other":{"available":{"displayText":"0 Others up for election","shortDisplayText":"0 Others up for election","displayValue":"0","value":0},"total":2,"popular":{}},"total":100},"needed":{"displayText":"51 for control","displayValue":"51","value":51},"lastUpdated":{"value":"2020-12-17T18:22:05.390Z","displayValue":"December 17, 1:22:05PM ET"}},"house":{"header":"House Results: Dems Retain Control","candidates":{"democrats":{"displayName":"Democrats","icon":"party-democrats","votes":222,"winner":true},"republicans":{"displayName":"Republicans","icon":"party-republicans","votes":210,"winner":false},"other":{"displayName":"Other","votes":0}},"parties":{"democrats":"democrats","republicans":"republicans"},"type":"house","votes":{"democrats":{"available":{"displayText":"233 Democrats up for election","shortDisplayText":"233 Dems. up for election","displayValue":"233","value":233},"total":222,"difference":{"displayText":"Lost 10 seats","displayValue":"-10","value":-10},"popular":{}},"republicans":{"available":{"displayText":"201 Republicans up for election","shortDisplayText":"201 Reps. up for election","displayValue":"201","value":201},"total":210,"difference":{"displayText":"Gained 10 seats","displayValue":"10","value":10},"popular":{}},"other":{"available":{"displayText":"1 Others up for election","shortDisplayText":"1 Others up for election","displayValue":"1","value":1},"total":0,"popular":{}},"total":435},"needed":{"displayText":"218 for control","displayValue":"218","value":218},"lastUpdated":{"value":"2020-12-17T18:22:02.900Z","displayValue":"December 17, 1:22:02PM ET"}},"lastUpdated":{"value":"2020-12-18T21:15:13.850Z","displayValue":"December 18, 4:15:13PM ET"},"autoUpdate":{"enabled":false,"topics":["general-elections-2020-balance-of-power"]},"electionsConfig":{}},"types":["electoral","senate","house"]}},"analytics":{"accountID":"wdgnewabcnews,wdgasec,wdgnewabcnweb,wdgnewabcnewsrollup","ns":"abcnews","pageName":"abcn:politics:story","pageType":"story","pageUrl":"abcnews.go.com/Politics/paying-dhs-employees-unconscionable-dhs-secretaries-letter-president/story?id=60583420&userab=abcn_web_article_ts-218*variant_b-819","globalSpecVersion":"v1.08","siteDifferentiator":"abcn:site","tagID":"apage_news01","userABCookie":"abcn_web_article_ts-218*variant_b-819","alertTag":"none","authors":"Luke Barr","authorsBureau":"none","authorsUnit":"none","dateline":"none","id":"60583420","modDate":"2019-01-24","mediaOnPage":"video","modTime":"07:40","provider":"ABC News","pubDate":"2019-01-23","pubTime":"21:40","section":"Politics","subBrand":"none","title":"Not paying DHS employees is 'unconscionable,' former DHS secretaries say in letter to President Donald Trump, Congress","videoId":"60591841","videoName":"Trump agrees to postpone State of the Union amid shutdown","wordCount":329},"taboola":{"config":{"network":"abcnews-abcnews","mode":"thumbnails-a","type":"other","targetType":"mix","placement":null,"pageTypeOverrides":{"story":{"mode":"thumbnails-a","type":"article","targetType":"mix","placement":"Below Article Thumbnails"},"home":{"mode":"thumbnails-b","container":"taboola-homepage-thumbnails","type":"home","targetType":"mix","placement":"Homepage Thumbnails"},"section":{"mode":"thumbnails-b","type":"category","targetType":"mix","placement":"Section Front Thumbnails"},"liveBlog":{"mode":"thumbnails-d","type":"other","targetType":"mix","placement":"Blog"}}}}},"request":{"headers":{},"httpVersion":"1.1","method":"GET","url":"/Politics/paying-dhs-employees-unconscionable-dhs-secretaries-letter-president/story?id=60583420&userab=abcn_web_article_ts-218*variant_b-819","vary":{"host":"abcnews.go.com","cached":true,"path":"/Politics/paying-dhs-employees-unconscionable-dhs-secretaries-letter-president/story","forwarded-proto":"https","device":"desktop","country":"us","userab":"abcn_web_article_ts-218*variant_b-819","region":"gdpr"}},"viewport":{"width":1260,"height":0},"user":{}};