Federal Manager's Daily Report

In response to Office of Special Counsel and congressional investigations, DHS has limited eligibility for “administratively uncontrollable overtime” generally to the types of front-line positions for which it was intended.

So-called AUO pay is designed to compensate law enforcement officers for work expectations imposed regularly on them beyond a normal 8-hour day. However, an OSC investigation after a whistleblower complaint found that some Customs and Border Protection personnel cashed in on administratively uncontrollable overtime for about 90 percent of their shifts, leading to a testy House hearing last month at which DHS officials said the matter was under review.

At a Senate hearing this week, OSC cited trainers and various desk-bound officials as receiving the pay, as well.

On the day of that hearing, DHS said it was ending the authority for headquarters workers, trainers and any individuals whose receipt of the pay has been questioned by the investigations.