Two Senators are asking the Transportation Security Administration what its contingency plans are in light of the fact that as much as 40% of the agency’s workforce may still be unvaccinated as the deadline for federal employees to be fully vaccinated quickly approaches.
Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS) and John Katko (R-NY) sent a letter to TSA administrator David Pekoske expressing their concerns about the number of unvaccinated agency employees causing disruptions to agency operations.
The Senators wrote in their letter:
In a recent media interview, you noted that about 60 percent of the TSA workforce has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. You also said you were “very hopeful” the agency will not have an employee shortage. Unfortunately, it appears TSA is headed toward a scenario in which up to 40 percent of its workforce may not be compliant with the President’s EO by the November 8 deadline. Such a scenario could have severe impacts on transportation security and the aviation, travel, and tourism industries. A steep decline in the number of available TSOs to screen passengers during the upcoming holiday season could have severe impacts on our economy, including small and rural communities such as the ones we represent.
They asked for an update as soon as possible as to what TSA’s contingency plans are for such a scenario.
TSA Goes to the Dogs
Katko and Wicker are not the only Senators to take notice of the potential problem facing the TSA over the vaccination deadline. Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) recently made the news when he said that the TSA should expand its use of security dogs to replace the federal employees in the agency who refused to get vaccinated by the November deadline.
“If TSA lags in jabs, send in the dogs,” said Schumer at a recent press conference. “Now if the agency plans now with contingencies, including the deployment of the canine dog teams, wherever the vaccine rates are impacting staffing and security, travel headaches can be avoided.”
He added, “There is no reason on God’s green Earth why anyone — let alone a TSA agent — shouldn’t have the vaccine.”
He further noted that the security dogs are “really effective” and “can help secure national security and allow TSA agents to more effectively and efficiently screen individuals for explosives. It really works and moves the lines along.”
The TSA said at the time that it ultimately expects the majority of its employees to get vaccinated and that the 40% vaccination rate “reflects employees TSA doesn’t yet have vaccination information on, and is not an accurate reflection of its vaccination rate.”
Vaccine Deadline Looms for All Federal Employees
Under President Biden’s vaccine mandate, all federal employees have until November 22 to be fully vaccinated. Federal agencies can begin enforcing the mandate on November 9 because federal employees must receive the first of the two dose regimen of some vaccines by the end of the day on November 8 in order to meet the November 22 deadline.
Federal employees who refuse to get vaccinated or who do not provide proof of vaccination to their agencies will first be subject to “education and counseling” as to why they should get the COVID vaccine. They would then be subject to discipline and eventually face termination if they remain unvaccinated.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said at a White House press briefing on October 20:
For the small number of people who do not comply by the deadline, the first step is a period of education and counseling. It’s important to remember that this is a process and the point here is to get people vaccinated, not to — not to punish them. So, agencies will not be removing employees from federal service until after they’ve gone through a process of education and counseling.
She further added that the vaccine requirement will not cause disruptions to government services.
Senators’ Letter to TSA Administrator
Dear Administrator Pekoske:
As the ranking members of the congressional committees charged with oversight of TSA, we are concerned about the potential for staffing challenges that could disrupt the transportation sector and related industries as a result of President Biden’s recent federal vaccine mandate.
On September 9, 2021, President Biden signed EO 14043, titled, “Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees.” As stated in Section 1 of the EO, the President has determined that in order to promote the health and safety of the workforce and the efficiency of the civil service, it is necessary for all agencies to require COVID-19 vaccination for federal employees, subject only to such exceptions as are required by law. The EO’s requirements apply to all employees of the DHS, including TSA’s frontline TSO workforce. Federal employees who ignore the mandate face discipline up to and including being fired, according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. However, the Administration has not been clear in communicating these potential consequences. Jeffrey Zients, the White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator, recently said that federal employees will not be fired for refusing the vaccine but will first undergo “education and counseling.” We are concerned that this inconsistent messaging may confuse federal employees about the potential consequences for noncompliance with the EO.
In a recent media interview, you noted that about 60 percent of the TSA workforce has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. You also said you were “very hopeful” the agency will not have an employee shortage. Unfortunately, it appears TSA is headed toward a scenario in which up to 40 percent of its workforce may not be compliant with the President’s EO by the November 8 deadline. Such a scenario could have severe impacts on transportation security and the aviation, travel, and tourism industries. A steep decline in the number of available TSOs to screen passengers during the upcoming holiday season could have severe impacts on our economy, including small and rural communities such as the ones we represent.
Being vaccinated against COVID-19 is the best way for TSA employees to protect themselves, their coworkers, their families, and their communities against the virus. We hope all TSA employees will get vaccinated. However, based on the current percentage of vaccination amongst the TSA workforce, we are concerned about the potential disruptions significant non-compliance with the President’s EO could have on the agency’s operations. We request that you update us as soon as possible on the agency’s contingency plans considering the potential for a sizable reduction in its workforce resulting from the President’s EO.
We look forward to your response and to continuing our work together to enhance transportation security.
