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Document DOJ-OGR-00026336

AI Analysis

Summary: An email chain discusses a news story claiming BOP lost 12% of its workforce since the Trump Administration started. Hugh Hurwitz responds, arguing the statistic is misleading and explaining the challenges in filling vacancies.
Significance: This email chain reveals internal discussions within the DOJ about BOP staffing levels and media coverage, potentially shedding light on the agency's challenges and responses to criticism.
Key Topics: BOP staffing levels Media coverage of BOP staffing Challenges in filling BOP vacancies
Key People:
  • Hugh Hurwitz - BOP official responding to media inquiries about staffing
  • Lee J Loftus - DOJ official copied on email chain
  • Jeffrey Epstein - Mentioned in the context of a news article
Document Type
Email
Date
August 14, 2019
Pages
1
Folder
IMAGES010

Full Text

Page 2680 Excuse the crude headline...not mine! https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/zmjvb4/jeffrey-epsteins-death-is-exposing-the-clusterfuck-inside-trumps-prisons >>> (b)(6); (b)(7)(C) (OPA) (b)(6); (b)(7)(C) @usdoj.gov 8/14/2019 4:52 PM >>> Thanks - Hugh, can you send me the story? -----Original Message----- From: (b)(6); (b)(7)(C) (ODAG) (b)(6); (b)(7)(C) @jmd.usdoj.gov> Sent: Wednesday, August 14, 2019 4:51 PM To: Hugh Hurwitz (b)(6); (b)(7)(C) @bop.gov> Cc: Loftus, Lee J (JMD) (b)(6); (b)(7)(C) @jmd.usdoj.gov>; (b)(6); (b)(7)(C) (OAG) (b)(6); (b)(7)(C) @jmd.usdoj.gov>; (b)(6); (b)(7)(C) (OPA) (b)(6); (b)(7)(C) @jmd.usdoj.gov> Subject: Re: Staffing in media Copying (b)(6); (b)(7)(C) (b)(6); (b)(7)(C) 202-532-(b)(6); (b)(7)(C) > On Aug 14, 2019, at 4:34 PM, Hugh Hurwitz (b)(6); (b)(7)(C) @bop.gov> wrote: > Lee, I saw a story today claiming that BOP lost 12% of our workforce since Trump Administration started which is double the drop in the prison pop. This is highly misleading. As you know (and AG Sessions and DAG Rosenstein were also acutely aware of), over the 5 years leading into this administration our prison population had dropped 40,000 inmates, but our staffing had gone up (and pop has continued to drop another almost 9,000 since the start of the Administration))! The drop in staffing that they are referring to also likely includes the 5156 unfunded vacant positions that were eliminated…positions we never could fill in the first place. > We do not need more staff, we just need to fill the vacancies we have. I continue to point out to anyone that will listen (and have reiterated this in several Hill briefings), the problem is not our authorized staffing levels or funding, rather it is finding good candidates to come work for us in hard to fill areas. I have dozens of examples where we post jobs, get 30 applicants and only 10 end up actually coming on board. At that rate it will take a long time just to fill the vacancies we have. We are working on several new initiatives to try and make BOP more attractive to applicants (unfortunately news like this does not help). > Anyway, I know you know this, but also want you to know that we are working to change this narrative, but right now we are getting drowned out by the media hysteria. Thanks. > Hugh Page 16520 DOJ-OGR-00026336