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Long airport lines lead TSA to fire security chief

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 16: Passengers at O'Hare International Airport wait in line to be screened at a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint on May 16, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. Waiting times at the checkpoints today have been reported to be as long 2 hours. The long lines have been blamed for flight delays and a large number of passengers missing flights completely. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 16: Passengers at O'Hare International Airport wait in line to be screened at a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint on May 16, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. Waiting times at the checkpoints today have been reported to be as long 2 hours. The long lines have been blamed for flight delays and a large number of passengers missing flights completely. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
By Ben Lawson
May 24, 2016

The Transportation Security Administration has replaced its top security official after complaints that the agency is both slow and ineffective.

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Kelly Hoggan was removed from his post as the agency's security chief.

Members of Congress said earlier this month that they were angry to learn that Hoggan received a $90,000 bonus package despite reports of problems within the agency.

Travelers have complained this year that wait times at security checkpoints are absurdly long. Some passengers have waited hours to get through, causing them to miss flights.

>> TSA headaches: Survival guide for long security lines

The TSA was also criticized after a report revealed that undercover auditors with the Department of Homeland Security were able to get fake weapons and other contraband past checkpoints in 67 out of 70 attempts.

There have also been accusations that the agency was punishing whistleblowers within the TSA by forcing them to transfer to new locations.

Darby LaJoye will replace Hoggan, stepping up from deputy assistant administrator to acting assistant administrator of the Office of Security Operations.

>> TSA plans hiring spree to speed up airport wait times

Congress has reallocated $34 million to the TSA so it can hire more staffers to get travelers through security lines more quickly.

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Ben Lawson

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