TSA Removes Head Of Security After Congressional Scrutiny
by Daniel McCarthy /Photo: U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
As complaints about long lines at security checkpoints grow, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has removed its head of security Kelly Hoggan from his post because of “mismanagement.”
The House Committee on Oversight made the announcement on its Twitter account on Monday, writing that Hoggan took home $90,000 in bonuses over 13 months as lines at airports continued to grow.
Hoggan will be reassigned in the organization while Darby LaJoye, the current deputy assistant TSA administrator, takes over.
The move is another step toward resolving the problems at America’s airports for TSA Administrator Peter Neffenger. Since coming onboard last June, Neffenger has promised significant improvements in wait times at airports around the country.
Neffenger also said a new National Incident Command Center will be installed at TSA headquarters in Washington D.C.. The center will be able to shift officers on the fly according to passenger volume.
Most recently, Neffenger appointed a new leadership team at Chicago’s O’Hare—where wait times at security averaged around two hours last week—and promised an extra 300 officers would be assigned there by mid-August. He also said he would overhaul the reward program for his executives, capping yearly bonuses at $10,000.