Dayton: TSA 'Ruined' MSP Airport Checkpoint Efficiency
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- If you're flying out of the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport this week, make sure you get there two hours early. There are long security lines these days because of consolidated checkpoints.
When the TSA reduced the number of checkpoints last month, they said it would speed things up. But the opposite happened.
For weeks, travelers are missing their flights.
During the busy times, some travelers are waiting in line more than an hour.
Gov. Mark Dayton wrote a letter to the TSA Administrator Peter Neffenger, saying he's "deeply concerned about the very significant delays and long queues Minnesotans are experiencing."
Dayton continues by saying the TSA "ruined" the previous efficiency of checkpoints by changing their configuration.
Dayton ended the letter by urging the TSA to provide more staffing at the new MSP checkpoints to reduce long lines and wait times.
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar also addressed the issue, saying things will get better, but not right away.
Klobuchar blames a decrease in screeners and an increase in travelers. She says the TSA has the money to hire more screeners, but it will take a while to train them.
Klobuchar says an extra team of TSA agents will be at the airport this week, and another team will be here by the end of the month.
A higher-up with TSA will also be on the ground here at MSP this week to see for himself what's happening.
The TSA told WCCO they are taking this very seriously.