The Department of Homeland Security targeted CNN Friday night, after the news channel reported that hundreds of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screeners are calling out sick due to the partial government shutdown.
In a story published earlier Friday, CNN reported that TSA officers, who are currently required to work without paychecks through the shutdown, have been calling out from work this week from at least four major airports.
CNN said they spoke to two senior agency officials and three TSA employee union officials for their story.
According to CNN, at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City, up to 170 TSA employees have called out each day this week, forcing officers from the morning shift to work extra hours to cover the gaps.
At Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, CNN said call outs have increased by 200%-300%, with 25 to 30 TSA employees calling out from an average shift.
TSA also responded to the “sick out” report and said the high call outs are due to the holiday and flu season. According to TSA spokesman Michael Bilello, screening wait times may be effected by the number of call outs but so far remain within TSA standards.
“Security effectiveness will not be compromised and performance standards will not change,” Bilello said on Twitter. “TSA is grateful to the agents who show up to work, remain focused on the mission and respectful to the traveling public as they continue the important work necessary to secure the nation’s transportation systems.”
Saturday morning on Twitter, President Donald Trump weighed in on the CNN report by praising Houlton’s response.
