US: Congress’s list of gripes With TSA is long, like an airport security line

The head of the Transportation Security Administration faced pointed criticism from members of a House committee on Thursday during a hearing that examined many continuing problems at the agency, including long security lines at airports and suspected retaliation against employees who report security lapses. The House Oversight Committee hearing was the second inquiry by the panel focused on management shortcomings and misconduct at the agency, which also included the awarding of bonuses to supervisors who ignored warnings about security lapses and allegations that employees who reported problems were reassigned to other airports. A hearing last month featured three TSA whistle-blowers, all of them senior managers, who said the agency remained plagued by poor leadership and inadequate oversight. “There are some very serious concerns about the performance of TSA,” said Representative John L. Mica, Republican of Florida, a longtime critic of the agency. Peter V. Neffenger, the T.S.A. administrator, said the agency had taken steps to address some of the issues raised by members of Congress, including starting a program to retrain all security screeners and refocusing the agency’s mission on security rather than merely speeding passengers through lines. Neffenger said he had also changed several policies, including one called directed reassignments, that employees at the agency said had been abused to relocate to different airports employees who reported security lapses and misconduct by managers. “I share your concerns,” he said. “I hold those who violate standards accountable.”<br/>