Member since 2 years ago
17 ideas posted
148 comments 2249 votes
15 votes
We currently have many inefficient agencies. First we need to evasluate the jobs of the agencies and the employees in those agencies. Redistribute employees among the agencies to the most efficient breakdown. Then downsize by RIF to keep the to performers and remove the sludge at the bottom.
35 votes
While participating in a college career fair recently I noticed that 90% of the give-aways were not US products. Buy American!
13 votes
Combine the departments/agencies responsible for border security and split those from the megalithic monstrocity that is DHS. Combine the functions of CBP officers at Ports of Entry and Border Patrol Agents between the Ports of Entry. These functions should be the Law Enforcement functions of Immigration and and the strictly Customs revenue generating/inspection should be reverted back to the Department of the Treasury ...more »
Combine the departments/agencies responsible for border security and split those from the megalithic monstrocity that is DHS. Combine the functions of CBP officers at Ports of Entry and Border Patrol Agents between the Ports of Entry. These functions should be the Law Enforcement functions of Immigration and and the strictly Customs revenue generating/inspection should be reverted back to the Department of the Treasury from whence they came. Also add into the mix Iiimgration and Customs Enforcement, TSA at the airports, and those National Guard assigned to Border Security. All can be trained at a centeral site instead of the various sites they are currently trained at.
The remaining none border security positions can be reverted to the departments they came from.
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29 votes
If DHS/CBP would issue e-readers such as the Kindle or Sony e-reader to CBP basic trainees instead of constantly updating and reprinting materials it would. after the initial expenditure, greatly reduce the cost of training to the federal gov't. These can be items that the trainee has to sign for as any other piece of equipment and is responsible for such. This would also eliminate the need for those costly backpacks ...more »
If DHS/CBP would issue e-readers such as the Kindle or Sony e-reader to CBP basic trainees instead of constantly updating and reprinting materials it would. after the initial expenditure, greatly reduce the cost of training to the federal gov't. These can be items that the trainee has to sign for as any other piece of equipment and is responsible for such. This would also eliminate the need for those costly backpacks that are issued to each new trainee. The technologies are in place to include the wireless networks at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC).
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13 votes
We currently go through the process for reinvestigation every 5 years. The only thing this does is make me try to remember the names of my neighbors I barely spoke to 5 years ago. Much manpower and other resources are wasted in these. If there is a problem with an employee an investigation may be warranted but everyone every 5 years?
32 votes
It may sound like an oxymoron but we need more common sense. The book Common Sense training by Arthur Collins should be mandatory along with other texts for all in leadership positions in the federal governement. I know many of the agencies have their own Professional Reading Programs. These are nothing but lip service. Make this material testable by the leadership. If upper management would impliment the use of ...more »
It may sound like an oxymoron but we need more common sense. The book Common Sense training by Arthur Collins should be mandatory along with other texts for all in leadership positions in the federal governement. I know many of the agencies have their own Professional Reading Programs. These are nothing but lip service. Make this material testable by the leadership. If upper management would impliment the use of commion sense instead of bureaucratic answers then maybe, just maybe, we could get something done and save the public we serve some money doing so in the process.
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16 votes
Its the budget stupid!
H.J. Res 1 (111th Congress) balanced budget ammendment died in congress last year, try it again. If Congress cannot do it that way then set before the States. If we get our own house in order the rest will follow.
7 votes
Instead of having a seperate training facility in Maryland to train CBP (Customs and Border Protection) Agriculture Specialists, relocate the academy to FLETC (Federal Law Enforcement Training Center) with the Field Operations Academy (FOA) in Georgia. This would eliminate unnecessary expenses such as housing trainees at a hotel instead of dorms and for meals at the dining facility instead of paying for meals.
10 votes
Instead of waiving duty and Internal Revenue Tax (IRT) for arriving international passengers, collect it. We are loosing much revenue because overworked/undertrained supervisors are advising CBP Officers to waive the duty instead of collecting it.
36 votes
Allow S/L to be donated to people in the leave share program. There are many needy fellow employees who need the donated leave. Allow for the donation of Sick Leave in the Leave Share program as well and the current Annual Leave.
113 votes
While many of the ideas submitted may be good, they have nothing to do with the Executive Branch. The Executive branch cannot mandate congressional salaries or anything else of the sort. A disagree button would allow for those of us who do diasagree with a submission to count also.
21 votes
Allow for payroll deduction for investment in a 529 educational fund for education.
13 votes
Eliminate different contracts for workers within same agency. For example, within CBP Border Patrol Agents have a completely different overtime system than CBP Officers do. Each job series (1895/1896) falls under a different contract. DHS and CBP say we are one CBP but even the agency is split into different feifdoms. Each of those feifdoms is then split into smaller feifdoms each reporting somewhere else and seemingly ...more »
Eliminate different contracts for workers within same agency. For example, within CBP Border Patrol Agents have a completely different overtime system than CBP Officers do. Each job series (1895/1896) falls under a different contract. DHS and CBP say we are one CBP but even the agency is split into different feifdoms. Each of those feifdoms is then split into smaller feifdoms each reporting somewhere else and seemingly in competition with themselves.
This leaves the workers not knowing in cases to whom to report or how. STREAMLINE the agencies and eliminate EMPIRE BUILDING within the feifdoms.
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8 votes
Eliminate different contracts for workers within same agency. For example, within CBP Border Patrol Agents have a completely different overtime system than CBP Officers do. Each job series (1895/1896) falls under a different contract. DHS and CBP say we are one CBP but even the agency is split into different feifdoms. Each of those feifdoms is then split into smaller feifdoms each reporting somewhere else and seemingly ...more »
Eliminate different contracts for workers within same agency. For example, within CBP Border Patrol Agents have a completely different overtime system than CBP Officers do. Each job series (1895/1896) falls under a different contract. DHS and CBP say we are one CBP but even the agency is split into different feifdoms. Each of those feifdoms is then split into smaller feifdoms each reporting somewhere else and seemingly in competition with themselves.
This leaves the workers not knowing in cases to whom to report or how. STREAMLINE the agencies and eliminate EMPIRE BUILDING within the feifdoms.
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97 votes
Eliminate the differentiation between the categories of Sick Leave, Annual Leave, and Compensation Time by combining the three into one pool. This we did at a firm I worked for in the private sector. This took away the "use or loose" abuse at the end of the year and the need to use annual is sick was already used up. It simplifies the process.
6 votes
Allow CBP to more easily share information and thus work with the various agencies to facilitate legitimate exports and enforce the multitude of export laws and regulations. This can be done by mandate and legislation.
8 votes
Combine the shared elements of the Border Patrol Academy, Field Operations Academy and Air Marine Basic Academy (PT, Firearms, tactics, etc...) into a unified "basic training" similar to the model used by all branches of the military. Then have them move on to their specialty training. This would streamline the process and save CBP and DHS millions.
