Recently, former U.S. President Donald Trump made a huge decision, when he fired David Pekoske, who heads the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). This was not expected since Pekoske was expected to serve a full five-year term. But he was fired before his time was up when Trump removed him from his post. Why Pekoske was fired by the government was not an official reason. TSA had been headed by him since the term of President Trump. Upon taking office as President Joe Biden, he decided to allow Pekoske to stay on and extend his role. He was doing a good job; many people thought so too.
Pekoske made many important changes while he was TSA chief. He tried to make the use of facial recognition technology at airports faster and more efficient. TSA workers got better pay under his watch. He also helped get more people in the doors of TSA and stayed there. However, his leadership was credited by some experts as having eventually helped to improve airport security.
Firing of Coast Guard Leader
The TSA chief was not the only one. Also, he fired the head of the U.S. Coast Guard, Linda Fagan. It was just as surprising of a decision. Fagan was the first woman to command the Coast Guard. It took her many years to work to strengthen the agency.
She had singled out fixing serious problems in the Coast Guard as one of her goals. Her ambition was to bring an end to sexual misconduct and harassment in the organization. The Coast Guard also under her leadership had better recruitment numbers. For the first time since 2017, they achieved hiring goals in the year 2024.
He was also involved in the struggle against illegal drugs. Together, the Coast Guard was able to seize more than $2.5 billion worth of illegal drugs during that time. She also supported the building of new icebreaker ships, which are crucial for operations in the Arctic.
Shutting Down an Important Aviation Safety Committee
In addition, Trump‘s decision to get rid of an important aviation security advisory committee was one of Trump‘s most controversial decisions. An incident so terrible occurred in 1988, the PanAm 103 bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland, that the British forced this committee when they failed to act. The bombing killed 270 people and made the world realise that airline security was way off.
Thereafter, the U.S. government formed the Aviation Security Advisory Committee. Those in the group were airline experts, security agency experts and even families of the PanAm 103 victims. They worked to review the dangers and make suggestions in order to enhance airline security. This committee has played a big role over the years in making air travel safer. Many recommendations were made for official policies that contributed to preventing terrorist attacks and other security threats.
However, on January 25th, 2025, Trump’s administration removed the committee without warning. It was ordered that all committee members be removed in a memo sent out. It still exists in name, but there are no members on the committee to do the work that it was meant to do. This decision raised serious concerns. A lot of people fear that airline safety will weaken without this group of experts.
Concerns Over National Security
Also, these abrupt decisions, i.e. firing those key leaders and the members of the advisory committee, were a big one too. Politicians began to ask questions, as did security officers and most of all experts. Would these changes in fact make the country less safe?
The TSA and Coast Guard are two extremely important security agencies in the U.S. Airport security, providing air travel safely is the job of the TSA. It is the duty of the Coast Guard to stop those illegal activities and protect the country’s waters. Removing the leaders without another person as a replacement is uncertain. Especially, the firing of TSA Administrator Pekoske was of concern. Many thought that his leadership was aiding airport security. Some are also concerned his removal could stall security projects, such as using new screening technology.
Trump’s Reversal of Remote Work at TSA
Another issue connected to this situation is Trump’s decision to end remote work for TSA employees. One thing tied to this situation is Trump’s decision to stop working remotely for TSA employees. Much of the government went to work at home and many of the TSA’s federal employees were included among them during the COVID-19 pandemic. This, experts believe, allowed them to give their jobs better service. When Trump came back into office, he reversed the country and ordered all federal employees to return to the office.
One of the problems with this could lead many skilled TSA workers to quit their jobs, some of the experts warn. There is a need for experienced people, and professionals to make airports safe. A loss of too many workers could derail the important project and also erode airport security. This policy has already been opposed by former TSA officials. The TSA thinks that means it will lose talent and expertise, making it more difficult to pick up on a security threat.
What Happens Next?
It is unknown now who will replace Pekoske and Fagan. And both agencies were left with no permanent leadership under Trump’s decisions. They are waiting to see who is chosen to take their place, many people. It should be noted that there are also serious concerns about the aviation security committee. It is not able to provide expert advice without members. Others are demanding Trump bring back the committee to guarantee airline safety is in strong hands.
These sudden changes are concerning to experts that something bad will come of them later down the line. Gapping national security could come from removing experienced leaders and experts. Others worry that the country may be exposed to greater terrorist threats or organised crime. On the other hand, Trump’s supporters argue that he is making the necessary changes. They say he is taking aim at government agencies and cleaning them up. According to them, he should have the right to select new leaders who will be in tune with his own vision of the country.
Conclusion
Trump firing TSA chief David Pekoske and Coast Guard leader Linda Fagan has created a huge outcry. He is also questioned after removing the aviation security advisory committee, which would raise concerns over airline safety. In many people’s minds, these moves will weaken national security. Losing such experienced leaders and security advisors could leave the country less secure.
