US: Neffenger: Chicago screening lines shorter, but TSA still understaffed

Security screening wait times at Chicago airports have improved significantly from earlier this month, according to the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) and the TSA. Chicago O’Hare (ORD) and Midway (MDW) airports were the epicentre of extremely long checkpoint lines and recent measures by TSA appear to have reduced wait times, at least temporarily. But TSA administrator Peter Neffenger continues to warn that overall airport screener staffing levels in the US are too low. “I do think we are at a lower staffing level than we need to be to meet peak demand at peak periods,” Neffenger told the US House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee during May 25 testimony. But Neffenger and CDA managing deputy commissioner-security Lydia Beairsto said checkpoint lines at ORD, which had consistently exceeded 1 hour earlier this month, are now down to about 15 minutes. <br/>