Obama's TSA Nominee Withdraws

President Barack Obama's pick to run the Transportation Security Administration, Erroll Southers, today withdrew his nomination from the post as he faced increasing scrutiny from his tenure at the Federal Bureau of Investigation two decades ago and renewed vows to block his confirmation.

According to the White House, Obama formally nominated Southers to the post on Sept. 17, 2009. However, his confirmation had been tied up in an effort led by Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) to block the nominee amid concern that Southers would enter into collective bargaining arrangements with TSA workers and "give union bosses control of our airport security," DeMint said in a statement.

Exacerbating the confirmation process, DeMint and six other Republican senators, including John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), earlier this month requested the White House release "documents and information surrounding the administration's vetting process of Mr. Southers and his censure by the FBI," which he left in 1988. DeMint in a statement said the White House never responded to that request.

In a statement issued today, Southers said, "It is clear that my nomination has become a lightning rod for those who have chosen to push a political agenda at the risk of the safety and security of the American people. This partisan climate is unacceptable and I refuse to allow myself to remain part of their dialogue. The TSA has important work to be done and I regret I will not be part of their success."

The White House has yet to float another nominee to head TSA, whose profile has risen in the past month amid airport security breaches and failed bombing on an airplane bound for the United States from the Netherlands. A White House spokesperson in a statement released today said, "The President believes that Erroll Southers would have been an excellent TSA Administrator, but understands his personal decision and the choice he has made."

Acting administrator Gale Rossides continues to oversee TSA. The White House today called her "very able," adding, "we have a solid team of professionals at TSA doing vital national security work to keep us safe."