Every precaution is being taken to keep the DHS workforce safe, especially for USCG, TSA, and CBP officers on the front lines.
The DHS workforce protection command center works to ensure that protective procedures are in place for the front-line workforce, who may regularly encounter potential disease carriers, and is in close coordination with federal health partners and component health and safety officials. The DHS Chief Human Capital Officer regularly communicates with Human Capital leadership and all employees about taking care of themselves and utilizing workforce flexibilities during this time. Additionally, she is regularly communicating with the DHS workforce to ensure employees have timely information pertaining to their safety and health.
DHS Management participates in the HHS Interagency task force regarding personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies to ensure employees have and will continue have sufficient PPE to carry out their official duties. Although the most recent CDC guidance does not recommend changes to routine security screening operations or respiratory protection, CBP, TSA, and other DHS components are authorizing frontline personnel, whose security screening tasks require them to routinely come into close contact with the traveling public, to wear PPE if they choose to do so.