The Department of Homeland Security said Wednesday that it will add more Transportation Security Administration screeners and more canine teams at airport checkpoints this summer, as part of an effort to help passengers get through those checkpoints more quickly.
“TSA Administrator Admiral Neffenger and I are acutely aware of the significant increase in travelers and longer wait times at airports, and their projected growth over the summer,” Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said Wednesday. “With this in mind, and given the current threat environment, last month I directed TSA to take a number of steps.”
Johnson said adding staff at security checkpoints will help TSA “provide effective service at airports that are expected to have the highest passenger volume.”
He said he’s also asking Congress to reprogram TSA money to pay for overtime costs. “These funds will allow TSA to expand the work hours of screening officers in peak periods at high volume airports,” he said.
Other steps TSA is taking include getting more people to sign up for a program that lets eligible travelers get through security more quickly, and finding ways to ensure the checkpoints are running as effectively as possible.
“As we look ahead to the surge in summer travel, we will continue to consider a number of other steps to ensure enhanced aviation security while also maximizing efficiency at check points,” Johnson said.
