LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem awarded bonus checks to several Las Vegas TSA agents and announced that the department will be investing over $1 billion into TSA security enhancements at airports across the country during a press conference at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas Saturday.
Noem held the press conference at the Innovation Checkpoint at Harry Reid International Airport, where the Department of Homeland Security partnered with several other industries and companies, including the Clark County Department of Aviation, TSA, and federal security offices, to advance and promote new technology for screening at security checkpoints.
Noem announced that the department will be investing over $1 billion in new technology and new advancements in security systems in airports across the country. It will be the biggest investment in screening technology in over a decade, according to Noem.
The new technology will include new X-ray technology to scan bags and travelers, as well as new training for TSA agents, and deploying additional K-9 units at security checkpoints.
“[Harry Reid Airport] is a wonderful facility for us to test new technology, and this security checkpoint is called our Innovation Center, which means this is where we typically deploy new technology, new screening processes, new x-ray systems to see as to their efficacy, to how they work as far as detecting new threats, or giving us higher rates of detection and where we can train individuals as well,” Noem said.
During the press conference, Noem highlighted several TSA agents who faced hardships during the 43-day government shutdown, the longest shutdown in U.S. history.
“It was devastating for so many people. We were amazed by the ability of our security checkpoints and our transportation security officers to still continue to show up and do their jobs and do it with excellence, but they also did it without pay,” Noem said.
Noem said there were “only a handful of many” across the county who the department could point to as examples of exceptional TSA agents, four of whom she highlighted during Saturday’s press conference.
“Many of them, while the politicians were in D.C. posturing and trying to win political points to advantage themselves, these individuals were still showing up for work every day. They were doing it while they didn’t have a paycheck, they couldn’t pay their bills, they couldn’t put food on the table for their families, but they also did it with a smile on their face,” Noem said.
Neom also announced that the department will be giving bonus checks to many TSOs across the country for “doing their job with excellence,” by not just showing up for their shifts during the government shutdown, but also taking extra shifts and extra responsibilities, as well as going above and beyond to serve those in their communities and help fellow employees.
Noem touched on the Department of Homeland Security’s partnership with the state of Nevada regarding immigration enforcement and the 287(g) agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that allows local officers to assist immigration enforcement.
“The fact that all of the individuals and officers across the state are partnering with us to make sure we are getting criminal, violent, illegal aliens off of our streets, brought to justice,” she said.