TSA Using Shut Down As Excuse To Be Lazy!

OAKLAND (KPIX 5) — It’s not the first government shutdown for Luster Harris, a Transportation Security Administration agent at Oakland International Airport for the past 14 years. But Harris says this one is different because there’s no end in sight.

Harris is furloughed but required to go to work because he’s considered to be among the essential personnel. Most of his TSA colleagues are still showing up every day, but some have been calling in sick. Harris said it’s not because they have bad attitudes but because they have long commutes and child care and limited funds for both.

Other TSA workers are not required to go to work, so people are being shuffled around to try and take up the slack and Harris said that is causing some delays and paperwork backlogs.

“Everything is slowing down a little bit,” Harris said.

As for the president’s concern over a border wall, Harris believes it is misguided.

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“Yes, we need border security, but you’re missing out on the security of other things,” Harris said. “All our services are not running so some things are not being checked like they should be.”

On Monday, a weapon somehow got through airport security in Atlanta onto a Delta flight. Harris said he is not surprised and is worried that could happen here.

“So far, God bless, nothing has happened,” Harris said. “but there’s no telling when somebody with ill intentions may try something or sneak something on board and we don’t have the personnel to catch it. At least, not right now.”