FBI Director Christopher Wray during his video message on Friday said the FBI tried to "think outside of the box" to find a way to administer short-term relief. | Alex Wong/Getty Images Government Shutdown FBI's Wray on shutdown: 'I'm about as angry as I've been in a long, long time'

FBI Director Christopher Wray denounced the partial government shutdown in a rare public statement, saying that he supports his workers and that they have been working in unfair conditions.

In a video posted on the FBI website, Wray said that the FBI is "now five weeks and two missed paychecks into this mess" and he knows that "100 percent" of employees "are feeling the financial strain."


"Making some people stay home when they don’t want to, and making others show up without pay — it’s mind-boggling, it’s short-sighted, and it’s unfair," he said. "It takes a lot to get me angry, but I'm about as angry as I've been in a long, long time."

"Sure, I get it. You’re public servants, and I know I can count on you to keep doing everything you can to help others, however you can," he said. "But you’re also people with bills to pay. ... And you can’t put those worries aside just because you serve the public."

Wray's unprecedented comments come amid a potential breakthrough that could end the 35-day shutdown.

President Donald Trump was poised to make remarks Friday afternoon about the shutdown, which has become the longest in U.S. history.

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For several weeks, Trump has refused to back off his demands for $5.7 billion in border wall funds, and recently, negotiations between Trump and Democratic leaders had ground to a halt.

Roughly 800,000 federal employees have gone without pay or with reduced pay, and many missed their second paycheck on Friday.

The FBI Agent Association earlier this week released a report anonymously detailing claims that forensic interviews of child victims were being delayed, that sources in counter-terrorism investigations had been lost, and that travel had been restricted.

The report also warned special agents were being subjected to "rigorous and routine financial background" checks and that if agents get behind on payments, it could delay them securing or renewing security clearances and even disqualify some agents from serving in some of their cases.

Wray during his video message said the FBI tried to "think outside of the box" to find a way to administer short-term relief. The relief would have included a one-time payment to to wage-grade and general schedule employees, which include professional, technical, administrative, and clerical positions.

Ultimately, he said the FBI could not find a way.

"We’re not going to give up — we’ll keep fighting to find a meaningful way to help you, to see if we can make something happen, and happen soon," Wray said in the video. "We’re already making progress on new options. And you can rest assured: We have no higher priority. This job is hard enough already, even when you are getting paid."

"And in this unprecedented and difficult time, there’s one thing I’m absolutely sure of: We will get through this, together, just as we’ve always done.