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TSA finalizes firings of Hawaii airport security workers
The Transportation Security Administration finalized firing close to 30 of its employees, and suspending an additional 15, at a Hawaiian airport for improperly screening checked baggage, the agency announced Monday.
"The Transportation Security Administration has completed the adjudication process of almost all 48 employees impacted by the June announcement at Honolulu International Airport," the agency said in a statement that was provided to The Hill. "Of those, three resigned or retired, 28 employees have been removed and 15 suspended. The affected employees have the right to appeal the decision."
The workers have gone through what TSA called this summer an "extensive investigation" since the beginning of the year for reportedly allowing baggage to pass through security that had not been properly screened for explosive devices.
Republicans on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, who have pushed to privatize airport security, called in June for the incident involving the Hawaii TSA workers to be investigated.
"The recent proposed firings of a significant number of TSA employees, including members of the TSA's own leadership team, at Honolulu International Airport (HNL), highlight the conflict that exists when TSA acts as both the operator and the regulator of the aviation screening programs," Transportation Committee Chairman John Mica (R-Fla.) and Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) wrote in a June 21 letter to acting Department of Homeland Security Inspector General Charles Edwards.
"It is imperative the federal agency responsible for maintaining aviation security operates in an effective and efficient manner," the lawmakers said.
