Trump Appoints Ha Nguyen McNeill as Acting TSA Head Amid Union Dispute

Former White House official Ha Nguyen McNeill has been appointed as the acting head of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the agency announced Monday. McNeill, who previously served as TSA’s chief of staff during former President Donald Trump’s first term, will also hold the title of deputy administrator. Her appointment follows Trump’s removal of former TSA Administrator David Pekoske in January, despite Pekoske’s term being set to run through 2027. Trump has yet to nominate a permanent replacement.

The TSA, responsible for airport and transportation hub security, screened a record 904 million passengers in 2024, a 5% increase from 2023. McNeill's appointment comes as the Trump administration faces legal challenges from the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the largest federal employee union. In March, AFGE filed a lawsuit aiming to block the administration’s move to end collective bargaining rights for nearly 50,000 TSA officers.

The lawsuit argues that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) unlawfully canceled a seven-year bargaining agreement established under President Joe Biden’s administration. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem ordered the cancellation on February 27, stating the move would prevent future administrations from restoring union rights without congressional approval.

TSA officers were first granted limited bargaining rights under President Barack Obama, which Biden expanded in 2021. The current legal battle reflects escalating tensions between the Trump administration and federal unions over labor rights at the agency.