No Committee Opposition To Moving John Pistole From FBI To TSA

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation unanimously reported out John S. Pistole to be Assistant Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, and Administrator of TSA on Thursday.

“The Senate Commerce Committee today favorably reported Mr. Pistole out of the Committee to be Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration and an Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security – and that is very good news," said Committee Chair John D. (Jay) Rockefeller (D-WV). "Pistole brings outstanding expertise that will help us tackle some of our nation’s most difficult transportation security challenges. As FBI’s Deputy Director and second in command, Mr. Pistole has diverse experiences and a broad investigative and national security background that will make him a highly effective leader at one of the toughest posts in Washington. I look forward to his full Senate confirmation to put him on the job for the American people.”

President Obama tapped Pistole (right) in May for the top job at TSA. He has has held the number 2 spot at the F.B.I. since 2004. The President's first two choices for the position withdrew during the confirmation process due to questions about past conduct. TSA has been without a permanent director since Obama took office in January, 2009.

Prior to becoming FBI Deputy Director in 2004, Mr. Pistole previously worked in the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division, beginning in 2002 as Deputy Assistant Director for Operations, then as Assistant Director for Counterterrorism, and later as Executive Assistant Director for Counterterrorism and Counterintelligence.

There is a sense of urgency on the part of Senators to work through the nomination. During confirmation hearings, Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT) said "We're going to try to move this through as quickly as I can. Our goal is to make sure you get confirmed before we break for the July 4 recess, so hopefully we'll get you out of the committee sometime next week and passed on the floor as soon thereafter as possible."

FMI: http://commerce.senate.gov/public/, www.tsa.gov