Key US security agencies lack permanent leaders

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WASHINGTON, Dec 29 (AP): Two federal agencies charged with keeping potential terrorists off airplanes and out of the country have been without their top leaders for nearly a year.
It took the Obama administration more than eight months to nominate anyone to lead the Transportation Security Administration and the Customs and Border Protection agency.
The attempted Christmas Day terrorist attack on a Detroit-bound airliner has prompted a review of US security policies. The acting heads of those agencies - both created in response to the Sept 11, 2001, terrorist attacks - will be at the forefront of these discussions.
Bogged down with health care reform, the Senate has yet to set a date to hold hearings for the Customs position. And Sen Jim DeMint, R-SC, has placed a hold on the president's choice to head the TSA over the senator's concern that the new leader would let TSA screeners join a labour union. This has some Democrats blaming politics for the vacancy.
Former US attorney Alan Bersin is nominated to run CBP, and former FBI agent and police detective Erroll Southers is the president's pick for TSA.