Sign InRegister

Airport screeners to be shuffled

From Jeanne Meserve
CNN

The Transportation Security Administration plans to shift hundreds of baggage screeners.

• Report: Airport screeners lack training

• Report: Screening not any better

YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Transportation Security Administration plans to shift hundreds of security screening jobs among the nation's airports, according to documents obtained by CNN.

Congress capped the number of screeners nationally at 45,000, so the TSA reallocates slots annually to deal with factors such as airline flight schedules, passenger volume, and how rapidly passengers and baggage are processed.

The TSA said it hopes to avoid layoffs through attrition, voluntary transfers and conversions to part-time work.

"In no way do we expect these newly allocated numbers to have any negative or adverse impact on security," TSA spokeswoman Yolanda Clark said.

She added that the reallocations may reduce wait times at some of the nation's busiest airports.

The documents show Portland, Oregon, will have 168 fewer screeners, New York's JFK airport will lose 162, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, will see a reduction of 122.

Las Vegas, Nevada, will see the number of screeners grow from 832 to 1,079, an increase of 247. Houston, Texas, will see a boost of 152, and the screening force at Los Angeles International Airport will grow by 120. Two Florida airports will also see increases: Fort Lauderdale will get 112 extra positions and West Palm Beach will get 101.

In April the management of Atlanta's Hartsfield International Airport spoke out strongly against anticipated cuts of between 350 and 400 screeners, saying it could impact wait times and the quality of security. Final numbers show a reduction of just 21.

In a separate announcement, the TSA said it has granted approval for Sioux Falls Regional Airport in South Dakota to participate in the Screening Partnership Program, meaning it will be able to use private-company screeners in place of federal screeners. The transition is to begin this fall.

Story Tools

Subscribe to Time for $1.99

Home Page

Get up-to-the minute news from CNN

CNN.com gives you the latest stories and video from the around the world, with in-depth coverage of U.S. news, politics, entertainment, health, crime, tech and more.

Home Page

Get up-to-the minute news from CNN

CNN.com gives you the latest stories and video from the around the world, with in-depth coverage of U.S. news, politics, entertainment, health, crime, tech and more.