Acting DHS head ripped over too-late promise of help for panicked travelers swamping airports: 'Incompetent colossal failure'

Long after social media users flooded Twitter with pictures of jam-packed airports filled with travelers trying to catch flights before President Donald Trump’s coronavirus-inspired travel ban goes into effect at midnight Sunday, acting DHS head Chad Wolf tweeted that help is on the way — and was promptly hammered for not anticipating the crush and staffing up.
After midnight on Saturday, Wolf tweeted, “DHS is aware of the long lines for passengers who are undergoing increased medical screening requirements. Right now we are working to add additional screening capacity and working with the airlines to expedite the process,” before adding, ” understand this is very stressful. In these unprecedented times, we ask for your patience. It currently takes ~60 seconds for medical professionals to screen each passenger. We will be increasing capacity but the health and safety of the American public is first & foremost.”
Commenters quickly pointed out his concern and plan for more help are “too little, too late,” as travelers were already likely exposed to the coronavirus in the packed airports.
You can see some comments below:
2/2 I understand this is very stressful. In these unprecedented times, we ask for your patience. It currently takes… https://t.co/zVXeai1M3d— Acting Secretary Chad Wolf (@Acting Secretary Chad Wolf)1584246807.0
@DHS_Wolf How did you not realize that this would happen and, I dunno, maybe plan ahead for it?— MsStatement (@MsStatement)1584271249.0
@DHS_Wolf Why wasn't this done to begin with? Anyone with half a brain would figure people would be scrambling to g… https://t.co/KUQ7MDdKm7— Sandy's Farm 🛹 ⚜ (@Sandy's Farm 🛹 ⚜)1584250022.0
@DHS_Wolf Incompetent colossal failure. All these people going to get sick.— Tzippy Shmilovitz 🤦♀️ (@Tzippy Shmilovitz 🤦♀️)1584247033.0
@DHS_Wolf And keeping them all in a petri dish in the meantime.— Persistence 🗽🖖Ω 🇺🇸 ✍️Vote Blue 2020 (@Persistence 🗽🖖Ω 🇺🇸 ✍️Vote Blue 2020)1584248604.0
@DHS_Wolf @ddale8 How is someone so grossly incompetent that they can't forsee this happening?— YOU can save our country! (@YOU can save our country!)1584247407.0
@DHS_Wolf You should resign.— *you're (@*you're)1584270444.0
@DHS_Wolf @jonostrower You are getting worse at your job, which the entire country did not think was possible.— Colleen Hamilton (@Colleen Hamilton)1584246757.0
@DHS_Wolf Is anyone in this god forsaken administration NOT an “acting” Secretary?— Meri McClellan (@Meri McClellan)1584247108.0
@DHS_Wolf You are completely incompetent.— Gadfly (@Gadfly)1584252100.0
@DHS_Wolf You are completely incompetent.— Gadfly (@Gadfly)1584252100.0
@DHS_Wolf Confirmed cases in Illinois more than doubled between Friday and Saturday. Inbound travelers are stuck at… https://t.co/seWDN6S8SS— ➖Dustin Miller➖ (@➖Dustin Miller➖)1584248025.0
@DHS_Wolf https://t.co/65oRo7b19B— Alicia Mendoza (@Alicia Mendoza)1584250150.0