Chief says shorthanded TSA will handle July 4 travel surge

The chief of the Transportation Security Administration says travelers should see only a slight increase in checkpoint wait times over the four-day July 4 holiday weekend despite the diversion of about 350 employees including screeners to the U.S.-Mexico border.

David Pekoske says TSA can manage the loss of those screeners if it is only temporary. He said the border deployment hasn’t had a measurable impact on airport wait times so far.

TSA expects to screen about 12.1 million people between tomorrow and Sunday for the July 4 holiday period.

Employees from TSA and agencies are helping Customs and Border Protection agents by performing non-law enforcement duties in connection with an influx of migrants at the southern border.