Secret Service: Canceling White House Tours Saves $74K per Week - East Idaho News
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Secret Service: Canceling White House Tours Saves $74K per Week

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Getty 030713 WhiteHouseSecretService?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1362684902897Olivier Douliery-Pool/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — How much money will be saved by canceling White House tours? $74,000 per week, according to Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan.

Here’s how they do the math:

The Secret Service says it takes an average of 37 officers to secure the tours. Each officer’s total pay (including benefits) averages $50 an hour. And, although the tours are only open for 20 ½ hours per week, Donovan says the officers are on the clock for 40 hours. So — 37 officers at $50 an hour for 40 hours a week adds up to $74,000.

It’s not entirely clear, however, how shutting the tours saves the entire sum of money: All of those officers will continue to be paid, with benefits. The Secret Service plans no furloughs. The officers will be reassigned to other posts, though, cutting the need for overtime.

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