Airport Alert: DHS Deputy Secretary Confirmed Permitting Pekoske to Return to TSA
June 17, 2021
This afternoon, on a vote of 60 to 34, the Senate confirmed John Tien as the Deputy Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Once he is sworn in, David Pekoske, who has been serving as the Acting Deputy Secretary since February 2, 2021, will return to TSA where he serves as that agency's Administrator.
After retiring from the U.S. Army with the rank of colonel in 2011, Tien was a Managing Director at Citigroup. Previously, he served as the senior director for Afghanistan and Pakistan at the National Security Council during the Obama administration.
Separately this morning, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas testified before the House Homeland Security Committee about DHS' fiscal year 2022 budget request. While border security, immigration, and cybersecurity dominated the discussion, the face mask mandate and TSA workforce issues were briefly discussed.
Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-MS) raised alarm about the rising number of unruly passengers assaulting flight attendants and Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) and asked Secretary Mayorkas how the Department planned to address this. Mayorkas replied that he regularly communicates that the Federal mask mandate remains in place at airports and on aircraft. He noted that this type of violence was intolerable and will not be accepted. Mayorkas has asked, "the Federal Air Marshals (FAMs) to address any acts of violence that they may witness on flights and for law enforcement officers to ensure these acts are met with the full force of federal law and that these individuals be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law." Chairman Thompson raised a question about FAMs getting involved while on the aircraft. Similarly, Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX), while voicing support for the concept, wanted to learn more.
Both Chairman Thompson and Transportation and Maritime Security Subcommittee Chair Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) discussed the H.R. 903, the Transportation Security Administration Workforce Act of 2021 that modifies TSA's workforce protections, rights, and benefits. On June 3, DHS announced new efforts to support the TSO workforce, including expanding collecting bargaining rights and committed to improving TSA workforce pay. While both Representatives were appreciative of these efforts, they sought Mayorkas' support to help pass H.R. 903, which he indicated that the Department is currently examining. Additionally, Watson Coleman pressed Mayorkas to support returning the diverted aviation security fee to TSA to pay for the costs associated with additional TSA workforce pay and benefits. Mayorkas replied that he would work with Congress on this and on how best those funds should be used.
More details on the hearing can be found on the Homeland Security Committee's webpage.
This afternoon, on a vote of 60 to 34, the Senate confirmed John Tien as the Deputy Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Once he is sworn in, David Pekoske, who has been serving as the Acting Deputy Secretary since February 2, 2021, will return to TSA where he serves as that agency's Administrator.
After retiring from the U.S. Army with the rank of colonel in 2011, Tien was a Managing Director at Citigroup. Previously, he served as the senior director for Afghanistan and Pakistan at the National Security Council during the Obama administration.
Separately this morning, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas testified before the House Homeland Security Committee about DHS' fiscal year 2022 budget request. While border security, immigration, and cybersecurity dominated the discussion, the face mask mandate and TSA workforce issues were briefly discussed.
Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-MS) raised alarm about the rising number of unruly passengers assaulting flight attendants and Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) and asked Secretary Mayorkas how the Department planned to address this. Mayorkas replied that he regularly communicates that the Federal mask mandate remains in place at airports and on aircraft. He noted that this type of violence was intolerable and will not be accepted. Mayorkas has asked, "the Federal Air Marshals (FAMs) to address any acts of violence that they may witness on flights and for law enforcement officers to ensure these acts are met with the full force of federal law and that these individuals be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law." Chairman Thompson raised a question about FAMs getting involved while on the aircraft. Similarly, Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX), while voicing support for the concept, wanted to learn more.
Both Chairman Thompson and Transportation and Maritime Security Subcommittee Chair Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) discussed the H.R. 903, the Transportation Security Administration Workforce Act of 2021 that modifies TSA's workforce protections, rights, and benefits. On June 3, DHS announced new efforts to support the TSO workforce, including expanding collecting bargaining rights and committed to improving TSA workforce pay. While both Representatives were appreciative of these efforts, they sought Mayorkas' support to help pass H.R. 903, which he indicated that the Department is currently examining. Additionally, Watson Coleman pressed Mayorkas to support returning the diverted aviation security fee to TSA to pay for the costs associated with additional TSA workforce pay and benefits. Mayorkas replied that he would work with Congress on this and on how best those funds should be used.
More details on the hearing can be found on the Homeland Security Committee's webpage.
