U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer Retirement Technical Corrections Act

S. 727 would address a technical issue affecting approximately 1,400 U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers. In 2008, Congress created an enhanced retirement benefit for CBP officers similar to those available to federal law enforcement officers. However, officers who received job offers before July 6, 2008, but started work after that date were initially told they would receive a proportional retirement benefit. In 2021, the Office of Personnel Management reversed this decision, leaving these officers with smaller retirement benefits than expected.

This bill would correct that situation by treating these affected officers as if they had been working on the effective date of the 2008 policy. This would allow them to receive the enhanced retirement benefits they were originally promised. The bill would also require the Department of Homeland Security to identify affected officers and notify them of corrections within 120 days, with retroactive adjustments made for those who have already retired. Additionally, the Government Accountability Office would review CBP's hiring practices and retirement benefit procedures to prevent similar issues in the future.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, the bill would cost approximately $20 million over ten years, with most costs coming from about 120 officers who are older and would not otherwise qualify for the enhanced benefit under current law.