President Barack Obama will have to look for a new person to nominate to be administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) after Erroll Southers withdrew his name from consideration. Southers cited distractions caused by his position regarding possible unionization of TSA employees and other issues relating to his nomination.
Southers had been nominated last August but his confirmation was held up by Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), who placed a hold on it. He has since been joined by other senators and a member of the House in holding up the nomination.
Craig Fuller, president of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, immediately issued a statement saying that AOPA continues to “support common sense enhancements” to general aviation security, adding the association looks forward to continuing a strong relationship with TSA and developing a similar relationship with a new administrator.
Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) said: “Erroll Southers’ decision to withdraw his name for head of the TSA is regrettable. Today our national security system lost a skilled law enforcement officer with needed expertise and leadership qualities because of political games — and that is a real shame.”