Yesterday, Larry Cosme, National President of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA)–the nation’s largest non-partisan, non-for-profit professional association representing more than 32,000 federal law enforcement officers and agents across 65 federal agencies–spoke at a press event hosted by Representative Gottheimer urging Congress to avert a government shutdown:
“I would like to thank Representative Gottheimer for inviting me here today to speak about the devastating effects of government shutdowns, both on federal personnel and our nation’s homeland security,” FLEOA President Cosme said. “When the government shuts down, the personnel deemed essential to the nation’s immediate security needs are required to continue doing work without pay to keep the nation safe. But for federal law enforcement, there is no clear line between essential and non-essential workers. Every member of the federal law enforcement team is critical to our homeland security mission.”
“That means that while our federal law enforcement agencies remain somewhat functional, critical operations that require continuous investment are halted or put at risk. Undercover law enforcement operations that stem the flow of dangerous narcotics are put at risk. State task forces that work together to stem crime are at risk, including those that support the citizens of New Jersey like me. A lack of funding also means that there are no resources for federal agencies to continue participating in vital federal-state-local task forces, such as those working every day to stop human trafficking, disrupt terrorist operations, and crack down on those who poison our communities with illicit drugs like fentanyl,” Cosme said.
“We encourage Congress to look to members like Rep. Gottheimer who consistently work across the aisle to enact common sense compromises to keep our government working for the American people. Now is not the time for a shutdown, it is the time for compromise and working together to move the country forward,” Cosme concluded.
