(a) The Administrator is responsible for the planning, direction, and control of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and for security in all modes of transportation. The Administrator's responsibility includes carrying out chapter 449 of title 49, United States Code, relating to civil aviation security, and related research and development activities, and security responsibilities over other modes of transportation that are exercised by the Department of Transportation.

(b) The Deputy Administrator is the “first assistant” to the Administrator for purposes of the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998, and shall, in the event the Administrator dies, resigns, or is otherwise unable to perform the functions and duties of the office, serve as the Acting Administrator, subject to the limitations in the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998. In the event of the absence or disability of both the Administrator and the Deputy Administrator, officials designated by TSA's internal order on succession shall serve as Acting Deputy Administrator and shall perform the duties of the Administrator, except for any non-delegable statutory and/or regulatory duties.