In an absolutely outrageous and unilateral decision, CBP has said it is immediately ending the Foreign Language Award Program (FLAP). I want you to know that NTEU is moving promptly to take all possible steps—contractually, legally, with Congress and with senior leaders of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)—to reverse this foolish and unfair decision.

The NTEU-negotiated FLAP program has been an unqualified success since fiscal year 1997, not just for the employees who use a foreign language in the course of their work, but for the travelers who are aided by having someone at a port of entry who speaks their language, and for the smooth functioning of the agency’s mission. I can hardly imagine a worse decision impacting a vital program on the front lines of our nation’s ports of entry. Further, management has taken this action with respect to a negotiated program on its own and with no discussion with NTEU.

I already have been in contact with members of Congress on this ill-advised move by CBP. I have spoken to CBP Acting Commissioner David Aguilar and am contacting other leaders within DHS. At the same time, I have assembled an NTEU staff team from the Legislation, Negotiations, Field Operations and Public Relations departments and the General Counsel’s Office to start outlining how we may reverse this decision. We are already looking at the feasibility of legal action. In the meantime, I ask that you not change your practice of using your bilingual skills in your work, and in particular not refuse an order to use those skills.

I want to assure you that NTEU will leave no avenue unexplored in our fight to reverse this outrageous action by CBP, whose employees, through their use of a second language in the course of their duties, have earned the rewards NTEU negotiated for them through the FLAP program.

This matter has not ended with CBP’s decision; indeed, it has just begun.