A report issued last week by the Office of Special Counsel determined U.S. Department of Homeland Security workers were claiming unworked overtime in a systemic abuse of the overtime pay system. The misuse of funds cost the government $8.7 million per year.

In response, a new congressional proposal would reconfigure the manner in which DHS border patrol agents earn and claim overtime pay, according to Government Executive.

Because this job often involves unforeseen circumstances that cause employees to work extra hours, National Border Patrol issued a statement saying they would not do away with the overtime policy altogether.

"You can't control when a dangerous cartel or potential terrorist will choose to cross," the department said in a statement.

According to The Washington Post, under the new system, a worker could choose one of three options: working 100 hours per pay period with a 25 percent differential for overtime hours, working 90 hours and receiving a 12 percent differential, or receiving no overtime at all. Unscheduled overtime hours exceeding 100 would be rewarded with compensatory time off.

The proposed method would reduce paychecks by about $7,000, but save taxpayers more than $125 million per year.

When limiting the overtime hours of staff, it is necessary to keep detailed records of employee time.

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