CNN: TSA official warns of security concerns at Palm Springs Airport, internal email exposed
A Transportation Security Administration official has expressed their concerns about security at Palm Springs International Airport due to excessive absences by TSA officers at the airport, according to internal emails obtained by CNN.
According to an email by Martin Elam, the deputy federal security director who oversees Palm Springs, LAX, and three other Los Angeles-area airports, the number of call outs at the airport has reached the point that security operations may be impacted. Elam says employees may be disciplined for missing shifts, which would potentially cause further hardship for those already working without a paycheck due to the government shutdown.
National TSA employee union officials warned that the shutdown would force some TSA officers to seek temporary employment in order to make ends meet.
Some traveling through Palm Springs airport weighed in on the issue. One Cathedral City woman defended the TSA officers for calling out.
“They need to make ends meet, so they’re calling in sick so they can do another job and earn some money,” said Lynn Conklin of Cathedral City.
Barry Bloom, traveling from Portland, OR, said “They (TSA agents) better start saving their money and look forward to these things, more things like this, going to happen more often.”
Jim Gregory, TSA’s deputy assistant administrator, said in a statement, that the TSA has not seen any adverse impacts to operations. Gregory said that Elam was “simply expressing that all screening employees must report to work during the current lapse in appropriations as required by federal rules.”
Hydrick Thomas, president of the national TSA employee union, told CNN on Friday the callouts “will definitely affect the flying public.” Union officials said those effects will only worsen the longer the shutdown last.
“The loss of officers, while we’re already shorthanded, will create a massive security risk for American travelers since we don’t have enough trainees in the pipeline or the ability to process new hires,” Thomas said in a statement on Monday.
TSA Administrator David Pekoske told officials at a conference call on Monday that those security standards will not be lessened during the shutdown.
Thomas Nolan, executive director of the Palm Springs International Airport sopke with News Channel 3’s Lauren Coronado about the issue.
“We don’t get involved in the administration of their (TSA) operation. What we do get involved in is the checkpoint functionality and so forth, but personnel, that’s their issue. We’ve seen no fluctuation in operation, aircraft are going in and going out. Speaking to the future, yet to be determined. What can happen nationwide? Yet to be determined,” said Nolan.
