David Cummins has been confirmed by the US Senate as administrator of the Transportation Security Administration and was sworn in on Wednesday, giving the agency a permanent leader as the Trump administration weighs changes to airport screening policy and security technology. The same 51-47 vote also secured another term for Thomas Chapman on the National Transportation Safety Board.
Cummins, a former senior vice-president at Serco, takes charge as the administration pushes to explore privatised screening at smaller airports and broader modernisation of TSA operations. National Air Transportation Association officials described his appointment as the eighth TSA administrator and highlighted priorities including the workforce, advanced technology, passenger communication, drone integration and cyber threats.
The confirmation ends a prolonged period of interim leadership at the agency, which oversees security screening across the US aviation system. The broader Senate package reflected continued movement on transportation posts within the administration, with Chapman’s reappointment keeping him on the NTSB for another term.