FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 16, 2026
July 16, 2026
Contact:
Tim Kauffman
202-374-6491
[email protected]
TSA Administrator Nominee Should Withdraw from Consideration or Be Voted Down by Senate, AFGE Says
Categories:
TSA
Nominee fails to respect workers’ rights, lacks real security experience, and embraces privatization of airport security, union says
WASHINGTON – The American Federation of Government Employees, representing more than 45,000 Transportation Security Officers (TSOs), is calling for the nomination of David Cummins as the next administrator of the Transportation Security Administration to be withdrawn by the Trump administration or voted down by the U.S. Senate.
In a letter to the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee ahead of today’s confirmation hearing, AFGE set three priorities for the next administrator. Mr. Cummins falls short on all three.
AFGE National President Everett Kelley issued the following statement:
“TSOs worked through the two longest government shutdowns in American history without pay – sleeping in cars, selling plasma, receiving donations at food banks to feed their families – and never let down the traveling public. They deserve a leader worthy of them. Today’s Senate hearing showed David Cummins is not that leader.
“A federal court has twice affirmed that the collective bargaining agreement between AFGE and TSA remains in force. Yet Mr. Cummins told senators during today’s hearing that collective bargaining rights for TSOs ‘hinder’ the mission under the guise of ‘national security’ because the contract provides workers some input over their work conditions.
“He embraced a budget that would cut 8,400 TSO jobs and cynically stated that TSA is ‘aggressively pushing the expansion of the SPP program’ due to the false argument that private contractors are immune from future government shutdowns.
“And he has never served a day in government. His predecessors led the Coast Guard and helped run the FBI. Mr. Cummins ran toll roads and parking programs for contractors.
“The administration must withdraw this nomination and put forward a qualified leader who respects the workforce and will protect the traveling public from heedless experiments to benefit contractors’ bottom lines. Otherwise, the United States Senate must not consent to his nomination.”
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