TSA administrator makes bid to stay on under Trump

Transportation Security Administration chief David Pekoske is signaling that he’d like to stay on in his current role as President-elect Donald Trump begins his second term.

During a segment about Thanksgiving travel with CBS on Tuesday, Pekoske was clear that he’s hoping to stay until his term ends in 2027, saying that he “loves” the role.

“It’s important for continuity in TSA to run the second term to its conclusion,” he said, adding that the agency has made numerous investments and increased partnerships not just in air travel but on surface transportation security, too.

A TSA spokesperson on Wednesday backstopped Pekoske’s comments. Pekoske “was instrumental in pushing for equal pay of all TSA employees to make them commensurate with the rest of the federal government” among other initiatives like lowering workforce attrition and increasing screener employees at airports, the spokesperson said.

“The agency has come a long way in innovation and technology under his tenure to increase security effectiveness, efficiency and the customer experience,” the spokesperson added.

A number of aviation and travel industry executives attending the U.S. Travel Association’s conference echoed that desire for continuity in interviews Wednesday.

Tori Emerson Barnes, U.S. Travel’s executive vice president for public affairs and policy, told Blue Light News at the event that the industry has had a “really great working relationship” with Pekoske, who’s “leaned in, pushing innovation and has worked on really driving change at the organization.”

“He was first nominated and confirmed in Trump’s first term, and so he’s been a steady hand, a consistent voice that really has led the way” on these initiatives, Barnes said. “Our hope would be that he would stay until the end of his term.”