Biden Admin Made Last-Minute Changes to DHS Before Leaving White House

Biden administration’s last-minute changes to Department of Homeland Security operations raise concerns about budget implications and operational effectiveness.

At a Glance

  • DHS employees granted three additional vacation days for 2025
  • Job positions merged at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
  • Changes could cost taxpayers approximately $3 billion
  • Critics worry about potential impacts on agency efficiency and budget control

DHS Employees Receive Additional Leave

The Biden administration has implemented significant changes to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) operations right before he left office – and it has people asking why.

Outgoing Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, dubbed “Santo Mayorkas” for his generous leave allowances, has granted DHS employees an additional three days of administrative leave for 2025.

“It has been the honor of my life to support you and to work alongside you. In recognition of your extraordinary talent, dedication, and sacrifice, I am proud — this one last time — to grant all personnel 24 hours of administrative leave, to be used this calendar year. Please take care of one another,” Alejandro Mayorkas said.

This decision, along with previous leave grants, brings the total additional time off during Mayorkas’ tenure to over six weeks. The extra vacation time is valued at approximately $3 billion, raising questions about fiscal responsibility within the department.

This sounds like a matter for DOGE!

Beyond the additional leave, the administration has implemented structural changes within the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). A significant modification involves combining two job positions, allowing employees to achieve higher pay grades through tenure rather than merit.

“Everyone would eventually be GS-12… as long as you do your job at the basic level you will get promoted without any competition or proof of your ability to do or know your job,” a USCIS employee stated.

This restructuring enables lower-tier agents to attain higher salary brackets without traditional merit assessments. While intended to promote workplace equality, critics argue it could challenge fiscal stewardship and potentially impact the caliber of personnel addressing complex immigration cases.

The timing of these changes, implemented in the final days of the Biden administration, has led to speculation about potential motives. Some view the moves as a strategy to challenge or increase the budget of a potential future Trump administration’s DHS.

“The Department of Homeland Security is tasked with some of the federal government’s most foundational responsibilities. The last thing taxpayers need is to furnish them with more time off when most federal workers are not reporting to the office daily anyway,” John Hart, CEO of Open the Books said.

The incoming administration may face a dilemma: honoring the additional leave and potentially straining the budget, or revoking it and risking employee morale. The changes also create administrative challenges in tracking leave usage and could impact the department’s operational efficiency.

If DOGE has anything to do with it, this will be quickly reversed…