Trump Nominates Serco Exec for TSA, Pushing Private Sector

0:00It's April 23rd. This is U.S. News Today, powered by AI bringing you what matters across the U.S. President Trump is set to nominate David Cummins, a top exec at government contractor Circo, to run the Transportation Security Administration. Cummins has deep experience in transportation and big logistics projects, like helping with the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. This comes as TSA deals with serious funding gaps and staff shortages that are hitting airport security hard. TSA's acting head has told Congress that shaky budgets are causing longer lines at checkpoints and making it tough to hire or keep workers. The agency has about 50,000 employees nationwide, and more than 780 officers have quit during the recent shutdown alone. Travel is picking up fast, and with the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the horizon, security teams are stretched thin. Officers worry about pay and job stability, which is fueling even more turnover. The administration wants big changes, like cutting

1:009,400 jobs and slashing the budget by about 20% to boost efficiency. They also push for private screeners at smaller airports, something some back as a way to cut red tape. This pick points to a fresh push for private sector know-how to fix TSA's issues and tighten up national security before the crowds hit.