Epoch Times reported that in a May 23, 2016, email to staff, Neffenger announced the removal of Kelly Hoggan as assistant administrator of the Office of Security Operations and named Darby LaJoye as replacement. Fox News separately reported the same personnel move amid the wait-time furor and a ten-point plan.
The Daily Caller, May 24, 2016, reported that the removed security chief was on paid administrative leave and had collected a $90,000 bonus, and that Neffenger had defended Hoggan as recently as May 12. The Caller quoted TSA whistleblower commentary that Neffenger had promised an open door on retaliation cases. Those are the outlet’s quotations of third parties. They are labeled reporting.
Removing a subordinate is a personnel action. It is not a conviction of Neffenger. It is not proof the covert-test failures originated with him. It is the record of how he handled the official sitting on security operations while the lines and the IG tests were a public story.