U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) today released the following statement after the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced that head of security Kelly Hoggan, has been removed from his postition at TSA:
"Administrator Neffenger may have found a scapegoat to blame for long wait times before Memorial Day but the flying public will hold TSA accountable. The cause and effect of mis-management at TSA is a security risk for travelers and results in expensive missed flights. Americans have lost faith in the ability and commitment of the federal government to act on their best behalf and the failures of TSA is another example of this sad reality."
BACKGROUND
Following last week's reports of hours-long wait times at airports nationwide, Senator Kirk worked with Senator John Hoeven (R-ND), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, to include additional funding for TSA in the FY17 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill, $79 million above TSA's request. The bill provides $7.7 billion for TSA, including $228 million above last year's amount to hire 1,344 new airport screeners and 50 new canine teams for airport security to reduce wait times at airport checkpoints.