President Obama nominated Southers in September 2009 , but the Senate recessed at the end of 2009 , without having taken up the nomination . One reason for the delay was a hold placed on the nomination by Republican senator Jim DeMint , who opposed the unionization of TSA employees . DeMint cited Southers ' possible support of the unionization of the TSA , which is forbidden in TSA 's founding legislation , and inconsistencies in Southers ' account of running background checks for personal reasons in the 1980s . After the attempted bombing of Northwest Airlines Flight 253 , in December 2009 , delays were criticized by Marshall McClain , the president of the Los Angeles Airport Police peace officers ' association , stating : " Friday 's terrorist attack on U.S. aviation makes it all the more imperative that there be no further delays in filling this crucial position . " On December 30 , 2009 , Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced he would file for cloture on the Southers nomination , once the Senate returned from the December recess . Given the Democratic supermajority in the Senate at the time of the nomination , it was expected that Southers would be confirmed sometime in January 2010
Northwest Airlines Flight 253
Northwest Airlines Flight 253
Erroll Southers