The Senate confirmed Vice Admiral Peter Neffenger Monday evening as the new head of the Transportation Security Administration.
Neffenger takes the helm after TSA workers failed miserably on undercover security tests, which embarrassed the agency and drove Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson to reassign the former acting administrator, Melvin Carraway.
This month, the Homeland Security Department’s inspector general reported that undercover agents were able to get fake weapons, explosives and other banned items through airport security check points almost every time — 67 times out of 70 attempts.
“Vice Admiral Neffenger, with decades of service to our nation, is a proven leader who has demonstrated an understanding of the severity of the issues at the TSA,” said Senate Homeland Security and Government Reform Chairman Ron Johnson, R-Wis. “I encourage Vice Admiral Neffenger to think outside the box as he works as effectively and efficiently as possible to improve the protection of our nation’s transportation system and to expedite legal commerce and travel.”
Neffenger was confirmed 81-1. The only “no” vote came from Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb. who warned it would be “naive and dangerous” to think one new director can solve all the problems of that agency.
Carraway was moved to the Office of State and Local Law Enforcement.
