The Trump administration has appointed Ha Nguyen McNeill as the acting head of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), overseeing its 60,000 employees. McNeill, who previously served as the TSA’s chief of staff during Trump’s first term, was named deputy administrator and will take on the role of acting head. The TSA confirmed the appointment on Monday.
This move follows the ousting of former TSA Administrator David Pekoske in January, even though his term was set to run until 2027. McNeill also has experience at the National Security Council and the Office of Management and Budget. As of now, Trump has not named a permanent nominee for the TSA administrator position.
In 2024, the TSA screened a record 904 million passengers, marking a 5% increase from 2023. This surge highlights the growing demand for security at U.S. airports and other transportation hubs.
Meanwhile, the TSA faces legal challenges. In March, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the largest federal employee union, filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration. The suit seeks to prevent the cancellation of a collective bargaining agreement affecting nearly 50,000 TSA officers. The union claims the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) rescinded the agreement as retaliation for opposing other Trump policies.
The collective bargaining agreement, which was signed last year, allows TSA officers to negotiate certain workplace issues. Under former President Barack Obama, TSA officers were granted the right to bargain on select subjects. The Biden administration expanded these rights in 2021.
However, in February 2025, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem took steps to end TSA officers’ ability to unionize, rescinding key directives. She ordered the cancellation of the bargaining agreement within 90 days and instructed DHS lawyers to prevent future administrations from granting TSA workers bargaining rights without Congressional action.
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