Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has given so much extra time off to department employees that one of his agencies has had to create an internal system to help employees keep track of it.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said its “leave-tracking tool” will make it easier for supervisors to see who is using the generous time off and for employees to monitor how much they have used and how much they have remaining.
Employees call Mr. Mayorkas the “patron saint of administrative leave” — or just St. Ali, for short — in recognition of his extravagant promises of extra time off. In 2023, he doled out nine additional vacation days to each employee, and he is on track for 10 this year.
The Homeland Security Department says the additional leave time rewards employees doing tough jobs under trying circumstances.