David Cummins has been sworn in as the eighth administrator of the US Transportation Security Administration after Senate confirmation, giving the agency a Senate-confirmed leader for the first time in the Trump administration’s current term. The TSA oversees security at more than 430 airports and has responsibility for wider transport security across rail, mass transit, highways, pipelines and maritime systems.
The agency said Cummins will lead a workforce of about 60,000 employees after his nomination in May. The Senate approved him by a 51-47 vote, and Reuters identified him as a senior vice president at Serco. The confirmation came alongside dozens of other administration nominees.
Industry groups welcomed the appointment as the agency prepares for potential policy shifts on airport screening, workforce management and technology. The administration has also pushed to privatise screening at smaller airports, a move likely to keep the TSA in focus across the aviation sector.