According to US media reports, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is offering double pay toes to rejoin and help bolster its ranks, amid a staffing shortage that has persisted for at least a decade.

The law enforcement agency recently announced a re-employment for retirees, in an attempt to bolster its personnel. President Trump had promised to increase the number of federal agents and law enforcement officers by more than 20,00 as part of his crackdown on illegal immigration. However, despite the CBP's efforts to maintain staffing levels, it has been facing difficulties, and thus has unveiled a double waiver for retirees, where they can draw their full retirement benefits alongside their full salaries.

Rejoining personnel will undergo appointments that last between 1 to 4 years while continuing to accrue retirement benefits.

"These actions recognize the valuable experience and dedication of our former employees," said Melvin Harris, the acting assistant commissioner for human management affairs at the CBP, in a statement released by the federal agency. "Their expertise is a valuable asset to CBP, and we are proud to welcome them back.

As part of its manpower expansion drive, the CBP is seeking to re-employ border patrol agents and CBP officers. To be eligible for the double pay, applicants must have been retired for at least a year.

Last year, the US Border Patrol offered a $20,000 signing bonus for new employees, an additional $10,000 bonus for those willing to work in remote areas.

In comparison, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been attracting applicants with $50,000 signing bonus and reimbursement for educational expenses. Department of Homeland Security officials previously told the media that more than 18,000 job offers been issued to applicants.

The report said that from 2018 to 2022, the number of applicants for publicly advertised positions at CBP generallyed downward, due to a variety of factors, including the Covid-19 pandemic and the scarcity of services in remote areas of the United States. In addition, negative of law enforcement work have exacerbated the CBP's plight, although the situation has slightly improved between 2022 and 2023.

But CBP faces other challenges in increasing the number of agents. The Government Accountability Office reported that only 2.5% of applicants for publicly advertised positions at US Customs and Border complete the required training and are assigned to active duty positions. Strict hiring requirements, including passing a polygraph test and a drug screening, result in more applicants not being hired

However, the report noted that the 2.5% hiring rate from 2018 to 2024 was an improvement from the 1.9 from 2013 to 2017.

Troy Miller, the then-commissioner of the CBP, said the agency expects a 00% surge in retirements by 2028.