WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The leak of the Transportation Security Administration's Standard Operating Procedures has put the lives of some 38,000 Transportation Security Officers at risk and presents more than a few problems for the flying public at large, the American Federation of Government Employees said today. On behalf of the entire TSA workforce, AFGE issued the following statement:

"This unfortunate and potentially damaging breach places an even heavier burden on a workforce performing incredibly important national security work. In making Security Sensitive Information available to contractors, while simultaneously withholding certain non-sensitive information from the public, TSA has raised serious questions in the minds of taxpayers regarding the implementation of certain protocols. If there ever was a question about clearing the way for the appointment of a permanent administrator for this beleaguered agency, it has certainly been answered with this most recent misstep.

The release of this information might have been avoided if there had been a strong security professional at the helm of the agency. Erroll Southers has the background and experience needed to strengthen security measures at TSA. The hold placed on the nomination and confirmation by Senator DeMint runs counter to prudent national security.

This incident further illuminates the urgency of appointing a permanent leader at the agency, which is why AFGE is again calling for the swift confirmation of Southers by the full Senate."

AFGE is the largest federal employee union representing 600,000 workers in the federal government and the government of the District of Columbia, including tens of thousands of DHS employees in Border Patrol, Citizenship and Immigration Services, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Federal Protective Service, FEMA, Coast Guard and TSA.

SOURCE American Federation of Government Employees

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http://www.afge.org