In form of US government closed For the first time since 2018, at least 750,000 federal workers have already been agitated without payment.
“Necessary”, such as army members, will remain on the job, but Will not collect their checks Until the shutdown ends – whenever it is.
Some would be forced to rely on food banks during a dip in personal savings, take loans or during disruption, which was Trigated by a budget dispute Between the Democrats of the Congress and the Republican, currently under the control of all the three branches of the government. At the same time, President Donald Trump is Large -scale firing threatened Adding additional uncertainty for the entire federal mechanism, which is already a stressful time.
However, On WednesdayOn the same day, hundreds of thousands of federal workers were briefly sent home, US customs and border security quietly announced that it would be outfitted by it. Controversial special operation group 100 pairs of advanced night-vision goggles $ 7.5 million, or with a cost of each $ 75,000.
No-bid contract was L3 Harris Technologies honored -747-400 aircraft “gifted” overlah to Trump By the royal family of QatarAnd the work is assigned With construction Trump Golden dome missile defense shield – According to federal procurement documents, reviewed by Independent,
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“The requirement is to provide CBP SOG with ground panoramic night vision goggles associated with thermal capacity and in a wide range of mission sets, the low light and/or have been tasked to complete the night operational effectiveness and status awareness to complete it,” 1 October The “justification and approval” document, added to a federal contract database by CBP.
A “J&A“It is necessary to run a government contract for a single source, which can often mean a higher price.
CBP and L3 Harris did not respond on Thursday IndependentRequest for comment.
In an email, Craig Holman, a government morality expert with public citizens, a guards in Washington, DC, called the purchase “a careless misuse of money at an important time”.
Holman said, “Government’s shutdowns are disrupting many important services, including air travel, food aid and scientific research.” Independent“When so many Americans are going to face serious difficulties in their homes to keep our priorities on the spectacles of night vision on the border, there is no less than a boon. Trump and Congress Republican is to wake up and prevent coffee from sniffing and taking money from where they just need to give financial benefits where they do not need.”
J&A claims that “[o]Nly L3 Harris GPNVG-F is capable of meeting the government’s requirements. ,
Jammu and A States, “Goggles are necessary to increase operational effectiveness and status awareness in the mission set of CBP.” It says that equipment will be used BortackThe SWAT team of the border petrol essentially. Border petrol is a component of CBP.
“Missions supported by the USBP include homeland security, anti -terrorism, drug interdiction, illegal immigration, discovery and rescue, direct law enforcement support for our country’s borders, national disaster survey, worldwide feedback and reaction to communication relay.”
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These specific L3 Harris Night-Vision Goggles “are essential for the need for CBP because without GPNVG-F which L3 Harris provides GPNVG-F functionality, the operational effectiveness of the National Tactical Team (Bortac) of the border petrol [REDACTED] And [REDACTED] The atmosphere will be largely affected to a large extent, “J&A goes away.
It describes the “essential physical characteristics” of the product, with other things, high resolution, a panoramic view, intense tube to the white phosphorus image, a thermal fusion overlay and an additional feature that is re -designed. If Bortac was forced to use a separate glasses, the team would “experience several operating limitations that would degrade the mission effectiveness, status awareness and the overall team security, according to the J&A.
Bortac, established in 1984 and has since developed into a heavy military domestic response group, Come under intensive criticism In 2020, he described as “violent strategy” and “indiscriminate arrest” by Democratic MLAs.
They are “the most violent and racist among all [of] Law enforcement, ” According to Jane Buddha, A former border patrol officer who was disappointed with the job and is now a pro -immigration lawyer in San Diego.
CBP, of which ice and border are patrol components agencies, are present under the umbrella of the Homeland Security Department. In July, a large beautiful bill act of Trump provided DHS with a record of $ 170 billion in funding, which included agencies in implementing the President’s collective exile agenda, which was a larger budget than most of the world’s terrorists.
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Since then, DHS is not shy about removing its new funds by courtesy of American taxpayers. In addition to The new ice offers recruits bonuses signing $ 50,000Salary of $ 100,000 or more for student loan repayment, and some applicants, agency recently made headlines Splendate But A fleet of New ice Vehicle. These are done Reminding Trump’s personal 757 aircraft, wearing a red, blue and gold paint plan, and the president’s name is placed on the back windows.
Like the night-vision goggles, several purchases of vehicles were not competitively bid. According to a J&A, a portion of those expenses will allow the expansion fleet snow “To meet anticipated increase in estimated staffing and enforcement requirements from 2026 to 2026.”
“As a result of” unacceptable delay “to exclude contracts for the bid and ongoing recruitment efforts would be interrupted, Ice J&A said.
CBP Contracting Officer, who oversee the new L3 Harris Night-Vision Proxes, “determined that the anticipated value (S) would be appropriate and appropriate,” according to J&A.
“CBP will continue to monitor industry and technological progress,” says. “When future research indicates several viable product options for future research requirements, the government will try to engage in competitive solidity in exchange for purchase.”