| Secret Service managers recognize both the problem and the necessity of keeping staffers on the job even when they can’t be paid. “The ‘max-out’ issue has been consistently identified as one of the top issues affecting employee morale and employee retention,” Thomas E. Dougherty, the agency’s chief strategy officer, told the hearing. “However, the protective mission requires continued, uninterrupted coverage for our protectees, requiring individuals to work over the amount for which they are able to be legally paid due to the annual cap.” Republicans and Democrats agree that needs to change. Chaffetz said “almost every single agent in the Secret Service has performed overtime for which they have not been compensated. … This is not a volunteer job and when you take yourself and put your life on the line to protect others and protect this nation … you should get compensated for that, and we need to address that.” On Wednesday, the committee approved his legislation to provide agents back pay for uncompensated overtime. Democrats also want to make agents whole. Reps. Elijah E. Cummings (Md.) and Bennie G. Thompson (Miss.), the ranking Democrats on the Oversight and Government Reform and Homeland Security committees, respectively, sent a letter Tuesday to the House Appropriations Committee urging it to approve funding for 2016 and 2020 Secret Service overtime pay. Citing a USA Today article that said at least 1,000 agents have maxed out their pay, the letter said, “the Secret Service has a no-fail mission, and we cannot expect to achieve adequate staffing levels when so many agents are being asked to work overtime for free.” Read more: [Secret Service IT management slammed following Chaffetz breach] [DHS report cites dangers in federal police hiring delays] [Why does the FBI rate high and the Secret Service score low on morale?] | 