Trump Nominates David Cummins to Lead TSA

President Donald Trump nominated David Cummins on Monday to lead the Transportation Security Administration, an agency reeling from the longest partial government shutdown in U.S. history that disrupted airport security nationwide.

The nomination comes after months of challenges for the TSA, currently overseen by acting administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill. The shutdown, which concluded late last month, left thousands of TSA employees without paychecks. Many called in sick or failed to report for work, while hundreds resigned outright. Security lines at airports swelled as a result, causing widespread traveler frustration, delays and missed flights.

Politicians on both sides traded blame for the impasse that led to the Department of Homeland Security's closure, including the TSA. The 35-day shutdown, the longest on record, stemmed from disputes over funding for border security and other priorities.

Cummins brings extensive experience in transportation security and operations. He served as a senior vice president at Serco, a contractor that provides services to local and federal agencies. According to a now-removed LinkedIn profile, Cummins co-authored a dozen patents related to...