McLEAN, Va. — The Transportation Security Administration ousted its head of security this week because the agency is seeking a "different approach," not because of any wrongdoing, TSA Administrator Peter Neffenger said Tuesday.
Kelly Hoggan was removed from his post amid an uproar over long lines at airport security checkpoints and intense scrutiny of bonus payments. Neffenger said he hoped to find another place "for Hoggan's talents" within TSA.
"Given the specifics of daily volume, I felt it was important to have a different management approach going forward than we've had in the past," Neffenger told USA TODAY. He said his goal was to gauge how to move travelers more efficiently through lines, rather than just faster.
Neffenger named Darby LaJoye, who was second in command of the Office of Security Operations, as the office's acting chief.
On Monday, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform revealed Hoggan's dismissal.
"Kelly Hoggan has been removed from his position as head of security at TSA, following our hearing on May 12 on mismanagement at TSA," the committee posted on Twitter.
Some lawmakers blasted TSA at the hearing for paying bonuses at a time when watchdog tests revealed screeners routinely failed to find weapons at checkpoints. The hearing was one in a series where whistleblowers denounced the agency for rewarding top officials with large bonuses while retaliating against workers who complained about the unfair practices.
Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, said Hoggan, who was paid $181,500 per year, received $90,000 in bonuses during a 13-month period that ended in November 2014. “Those bonuses were given to somebody who oversees a part of the operation that was in total failure,” Chaffetz said.
Neffenger said large bonuses had been distributed for years before he took over TSA in July 2015, and that he likes to reward accomplished managers. But he found the bonuses indefensible and capped them at $10,000 per year, with additional administrative reviews. He called the large bonuses an institutional failure rather than blaming the problem on an individual.
“I found them unacceptable and I found them unsupportable, so I stopped them,” Neffenger told USA TODAY. “Even if within legal bounds, it’s not justifiable.”
The pressure on TSA has been building in recent weeks amid reports of unprecedented airport security lines across the nation. Passenger numbers approached record totals while the numbers of screening personnel were trimmed. Those issues were supposed to be offset by travelers signing up for the expedited PreCheck screening program, but the number of fliers registering has fallen short of expectations.
Almost 500 people were stranded May 15 at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport when long lines prevented travelers from catching flights. Cots were provided, and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel promised angry travelers that the city's airports will get more screeners.
Hoggan's replacement has served as the federal security officer at large airports including New York's John F. Kennedy and Los Angeles.
"He has a tremendous amount of experience directing and managing the workforce," Neffenger said. "He brings a lot of talent and capability to the table."
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