Long seÂcuriÂty lines at the MinÂneÂapÂolis-St. Paul International Airport's main terÂmiÂnal promptÂed MinÂneÂsoÂta's two U.S. senaÂtors on Wednesday to call for adÂdiÂtionÂal staffÂing from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
On MonÂday, the Metropolitan AirÂports Commission (MAC) launched a temÂpoÂrary reconfiguration of two seÂcuriÂty checkÂpoints in the tickÂetÂing lobÂby of TerÂmiÂnal 1, also known as the LindÂbergh terÂmiÂnal. The new sysÂtem prompted by a conÂstrucÂtion proÂject has creÂatÂed long lines, conÂfuÂsion and outÂrage aÂmong pasÂsenÂgers this week.
But Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Sen. Tina Smith, both D-Minn., said the conÂstrucÂtion exÂacÂerÂbatÂes an alÂreadÂy fesÂterÂing problem: TSA staffÂing has not kept up with the growth of pasÂsenÂgers flyÂing from MSP.
"The bottom line is that it is simply unacceptable that authorized TSA staffing at MSP has decreased while passenger traffic has increased," Klobuchar said at a news conference Wednesday. "It is critical that we do everything possible to mitigate the impact on wait times caused by construction."
Klobuchar said she has sent two letÂters to TSA AdÂminÂisÂtraÂtor David Pekoske since last fall urging the aÂgenÂcy to bolÂster staffÂing at MSP to adÂdress reÂcent inÂcreasÂes in wait times at seÂcuriÂty checkÂpoints.
In 2012, MSP served aÂbout 34 milÂlion pasÂsenÂgers and had 670 full-time eÂquivÂaÂlent TSA ofÂficÂers alÂloÂcatÂed to the airÂport, acÂcordÂing to Klobuchar. By 2017, trafÂfic at MSP had inÂcreased to 38 milÂlion pasÂsenÂgers, but the TSA had reÂduced the numÂber of asÂsigned full-time eÂquivÂaÂlent ofÂficÂers to 630, she said.
MAC spokesÂman PatÂrick HoÂgan said, "TSA has great staff, there's just not enÂough of them." The TSA is only able to staff 16 of the 21 checkÂpoint lanes in TerÂmiÂnal 1 at a time, he addÂed.
For exÂamÂple, CheckÂpoint No. 10 on the skyway beÂtween the C and G conÂcourses has been shutÂtered for months due to TSA staffÂing problems.
TSA spokeswoman Lauren Sundquist said the agency will not release the number of screeners at MSP.
"TSA at MSP is fully staffed at the authorized number for transportation security officers and brings new officers onboard to fill any vacancies as quickly as possible," she said.
The temÂpoÂrary reconfiguration, which ends in mid-December, means pasÂsenÂgers with TSA PreCheck, Clear with PreCheck, and airÂport emÂployÂees must use the south checkÂpoint, which has six lanes.
Passengers withÂout PreCheck, and with First Class/Sky PriÂorÂiÂty and stanÂdard Clear, should use the north checkÂpoint, which has 10 lanes.
The construction is part of a broadÂer, multiyear $1.6 bilÂlion overÂhaul of the airÂport's busy main terÂmiÂnal.
At MSP, the TSA screens an avÂerÂage of 35,000 travelers a day, but in sumÂmer months that numÂber can inÂcrease by more than 17% to apÂproxÂiÂmateÂly 41,000 travelers a day.