Chad Wolf was confirmed to be the new acting secretary of Homeland Security on Wednesday. Wolf has worked with the Transportation Security Administration under the Trump administration and during the Bush administration.
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The Department of Homeland Security expects to have biometric data on at least 259 million people in its Homeland Advanced Recognition Technology database by 2022, according to the Office of Procurement Operations. Former acting DHS secretary Kevin McAleenan said last year biometrics data makes it "possible to confirm the identity of travelers at any point in their travel."
The Senate is expected to vote next week on the nomination of Chad Wolf as undersecretary to the Department of Homeland Security, which would then allow the Trump administration to install him as acting secretary for the entire department.
The Department of Homeland Security is requesting information about self-service security systems, allowing passengers to screen themselves. Passengers would put their items through the X-ray machine and step through a body scanner, alerting Transportation Security Administration agents if anything requires further inspection.
Transportation Security Administration chief David Pekoske will take on the role of temporary deputy Homeland Security secretary. TSA acting Deputy Administrator Patricia Cogswell will manage TSA operations in his absence.
Department of Homeland Security Inspector General John Roth told a House subcommittee that the Transportation Security Administration has "begun the process of critical self-evaluation" under new leadership. TSA Administrator Peter Neffenger, who was confirmed in June, said that officers had been too focused on keeping security lines moving.