President Donald Trump faces a major obstacle in keeping the southern border secure through his second term and into the next decade.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the federal agency responsible for guarding the country’s borders, faces a possible staffing shortage in the lead-up to Trump’s departure from office in 2029, one that could affect the security at the border and Trump’s legacy on a keystone campaign promise.
CBP anticipates a sharp uptick in retirements among employees who joined in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green (R-TN) warned that the problem is not to be underestimated.
“Many of the Border Patrol agents and Customs and Border Protection officers who joined the department in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks are reaching a mandated retirement age,” Green said in a statement to the Washington Examiner. “This could cripple our border security mission if not addressed swiftly.”
A report published by the Government Accountability Office in Washington concluded that beginning in late 2026, “significant increases” in retirements in CBP law enforcement positions “could have significant effects” on the agency’s ability to meet its national security mission.
The National Treasury Employees Union, which represents CBP’s customs officers who staff air, land, and sea ports of entry, has warned of a “catastrophic breakdown in port operations if thousands of officers retire without anyone to replace them.”
CBP is working to address the tsunami of employee retirements across its components, but whether CBP can hire and retain employees to make up for the losses will depend to some extent on what Congress is willing to fund.
CBP’s early days
Congress created the CBP in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The new agency brought government agencies and offices with national security missions under one roof. CBP’s Office of Field Operations has 32,000 officers and staff members who are responsible for screening vehicles, cargo, and goods entering the United States, as well as inspecting all people entering the country at ports of entry.
Border Patrol’s nearly 20,000 agents and staff work between land ports of entry and at select coastal regions to keep people and goods from coming into the country without inspection. Air and Marine Operations’ 1,800 federal police and staff serve as the eyes in the sky and on maritime patrols.
CBP was formed in 2003, when patriotism was high. In the first few years following the 9/11 attacks, the U.S. military and law enforcement departments saw an influx of people apply, including thousands who chose to apply to work for CBP.
Those who joined CBP after 9/11 are aging out, facing mandatory retirement dates between now and 2030. The challenges vary depending on the component.
CBP’s retirement surge
Border Patrol lost nearly a quarter of its workforce, more than 4,000 employees, in the 3 1/2 years following former President Joe Biden’s election to office in November 2020, the Washington Examiner first reported in May 2024.
Matthew Hudak, the retired second-in-command of Border Patrol, told the Washington Examiner last year that many agents lost motivation and purpose during the Biden administration, arresting illegal immigrants only to release them into the country rather than remove them.
CBP employees are eligible to retire at any age with 25 years of service. They can retire at age 50 with 20 years of service. At 57 years old, employees are required to retire.
Troy Miller, former senior official performing the duties of CBP commissioner under Biden, testified before Congress in April 2024 that the agency was in the process of coming up with a plan to address the various departures across its components.
“We need to focus on hiring,” Miller said. “We need to have a plan where we start hiring in advance of 2028, and in fact over hire in ’26 and ‘27 so we don’t have a 400% [increase in] attrition rate when 2028 hits us.”
CBP’s Office of Field Operations is already short 5,850 customs officers to staff the 328 land, air, and sea ports of entry nationwide, according to its union.
To make up for the wave of retirements in 2028, OFO will need an additional 2,200 officers to address the 400% increase in retirements and keep up with stopping the flow of fentanyl into the U.S.
“We expect many of the CBP Officers hired before July 6, 2008, will retire in 2028 because that is when they will become eligible to receive their full Law Enforcement Officer enhanced retirement,” NTEU National President Doreen Greenwald testified before Congress in May 2024.
Paul Perez, president of the National Border Patrol Council union, said the retirement cliff for Border Patrol agents is approaching in 2028, but added that CBP has one tool to retain agents that has been seeing a lot of success early on.
How CBP is planning
Border Patrol agents are choosing to extend their careers for a one-year term as part of a newer initiative that allows them to apply for a short-term renewal multiple times until the age of 60.
The Trump administration and congressional Republicans are also pushing a funding solution that would give CBP a hefty investment to hire a lot more staff and retain existing employees.
“It’s a good recruiting tool. We do have a big retirement cliff coming, but many of the agents are opting to stay,” Perez said.
The House-passed version of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act would give CBP $4.1 billion to hire personnel, as well as $2.05 billion for retention bonuses and signing incentives.
“With the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act,’ congressional Republicans are funding at least 3,000 new Border Patrol agents, 5,000 new CBP officers, 200 new Air and Marine Operations agents, and 290 support staff. It’s time for the Senate to help us deliver,” Green said.
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One longtime Border Patrol agent in California, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because agents are not allowed to speak freely with media, said despite the ability to re-up for another year come retirement time, he plans to take his retirement before Trump leaves office, but he said he has peace of mind about where CBP is headed.
“I joined in early 2003. I was in, serving part-time in the National Guard during 9/11. I plan to retire by the end of 2028,” the agent wrote in a text message. “I have done and seen a lot during my career. I have served during different administrations, with different policy changes. As much as I love my country and think I can still do more to support and defend the Constitution, I have to take care of myself and let the new generation of agents … lead the patrol.”