President Donald Trump began his second term with swift personnel changes at the Department of Homeland Security, removing key security leaders from their positions.
According to AP News, Trump fired Transportation Security Administration head David Pekoske and Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Linda Fagan while also disbanding all members of a crucial aviation security advisory committee.
The sweeping changes affect multiple sectors of homeland security operations. The Aviation Security Advisory Committee, established after the 1988 PanAm 103 bombing, will continue to exist without any members to examine airline and airport safety issues. This committee previously included representatives from airlines, unions, and victims' families of the PanAm 103 tragedy.
Pekoske's dismissal came as a surprise since Trump himself had originally appointed him during his first term. The former TSA administrator was serving his second five-year term after being reconfirmed by the Senate under the Biden administration.
During his tenure, Pekoske implemented significant changes, including expanding facial recognition technology at airports and securing pay raises for frontline TSA officers.
Stephanie Bernstein, whose husband died in the PanAm 103 bombing and served on the aviation committee, expressed her concerns. She stated:
I naively thought, 'oh they're not going to do anything in the new administration, to put security at risk — aviation security at risk.' But I'm not so sure.
The removal of Adm. Linda Fagan, the first female service chief in U.S. armed forces history, drew particular criticism from Democratic lawmakers. Senator Maria Cantwell called the firing "appalling" during a CNN interview, highlighting Fagan's efforts to address sexual assault issues within the Coast Guard.
Under Fagan's leadership, the Coast Guard made significant strides in addressing institutional problems. In 2023, the service publicly apologized for its past failures in handling sexual assault and harassment cases at the Coast Guard Academy. The acknowledgment included details about Operation Fouled Anchor, a six-year internal investigation into cases from 1988 to 2006.
Representative Joe Courtney, whose district includes the Coast Guard Academy, defended Fagan's record with strong words:
President Trump's unprecedented decision on day one to fire a service chief ahead of her scheduled departure is an abuse of power that slanders the good name and record of Admiral Fagan.
Fagan's achievements included exceeding 2024 recruitment goals, intercepting over $2.5 billion in illegal drugs, and championing the ICE Pact for new icebreaker vessel production. These accomplishments came despite facing bipartisan criticism for her handling of congressional investigations into past abuse cases.
The Department of Homeland Security faces a period of transition and uncertainty following these personnel changes. Trump's restructuring extends beyond these dismissals, with plans to appoint a new Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator after criticizing the agency's response to recent natural disasters like Hurricane Helene and California wildfires.
The shakeup at DHS marks a dramatic start to Trump's second term, with the removal of key security leaders and the dismantling of advisory committees that have shaped aviation safety policies for decades.
The future of crucial security initiatives, including aviation safety oversight and Coast Guard reforms, remains unclear as new leadership prepares to take control of these vital agencies.
