The TSA security director at the Phoenix airport has been placed on leave amid allegations that he intentionally slowed down screening to increase wait times in order to justify expanding his staff.
- A Valley newspaper reported Wednesday that federal authorities responsible for security at Phoenix’s Sky Harbor International Airport intentionally lengthened wait times at passenger checkpoints at a time when they were asking Homeland Security administrators in Washington to provide more screeners.
- The e-mails written by Fred Carter, screening chief at Sky Harbor, to Florian alerted staffers to the wait-time move on April 5. One of Carter’s emails stated that shifting staff away from checkpoints would allow passenger lanes to be shut down so wait times could be lengthened.
Clearly unacceptable and a failure of leadership. Poor security, hiring of criminals, and violations of civil rights haven’t been enough to turn the country against this new federal bureaucracy. Perhaps intentional customer disservice could finally bring a call for accountability? Maybe it’s time to bring back the campaign to Impeach Norm Mineta?