The government completed its security takeover at the nation’s airports Tuesday, winning praise from travelers who said they felt more confident and were happy with the short lines at the X-ray machines.

The Transportation Security Administration, created after the 9-11 attacks, met its deadline to put more than 47,000 federal employees in place to handle security at 424 airports nationwide. They replace a private work force often criticized as inefficient, inattentive and poorly trained.

The federal screeners have been added over the past few months. Congress has also set a year-end deadline to screen all checked baggage for explosives, but many airports say they will have trouble installing the minivan-sized bomb-detection machines by then.

Travelers across the country praised the efficiency of the new screeners, citing shorter lines at checkpoints as a major plus.

“I’m waiting less now,” said Mark Turner, who was flying from Newark, N.J., to Dallas.

Joe Aiello of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., said he has noticed a difference at security checkpoints recently. “They’re more professional, courteous,” he said in Philadelphia. “There are less bag checks :quot; they can read the equipment better.”