TSA: Atlanta 'Overreacting' To Routine Screener Staff Issues

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) yesterday said Atlanta Airport executives, who are unnerved by the agency's plans to reduce screeners in the face of a busy summer ahead, are overreacting to what it calls "an annual [screener] reallocation process."

Atlanta General Manager Ben DeCosta told reporters this week that TSA plans to cut 350 to 400 screener jobs at the airport as part of a nationwide effort to meet the congressionally mandated cap of 45,000 full-time equivalent screeners. DeCosta said he was concerned that wait times at security lines would increase with fewer screeners and a higher passenger volume during the summer. TSA currently employs about 47,000 screeners at 450 commercial airports and Atlanta has about 1,400 screeners, an airport spokeswoman said.

But TSA, in an official statement, said Atlanta's estimates are "premature and speculative and ignore the continuous work TSA has done in Atlanta and across the country to successfully staff for maximum security and customer service."

TSA defended its formula to keep its work force numbers in check, saying that "staffing levels at individual airports are redefined using a methodology" that considers a variety of elements, including forecast air travel, hours of operation and baggage-screening areas.