"We need to build bridges to American Muslim communities," Jeh Johnson said. | Getty Homeland security chief hits Trump's Muslim ban

Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson on Sunday hit presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump for his proposal to temporarily ban Muslims from entering the United States.

“A ban, immigration policy based on religion, is unwise and counter-productive, frankly,” Johnson said on "Fox News Sunday." “We need to build bridges to Muslim communities. We need to build bridges to American Muslim communities.”


Johnson also spoke about Thursday’s EgyptAir crash, a disaster that some, including Trump and Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton, have said was likely caused by terrorism.

“At this point, we do not rule out an act of terrorism, but it’s still early,” Johnson said. As to the candidates’ declaration that the crash was likely a terrorist act, he said he had “no comment.”

Asked about the increasingly long lines at TSA checkpoints at U.S. airports, Johnson said, “We’re not going to short-cut aviation security,” noting the average security wait time at major airports remains about half an hour.

“We’re working aggressively to build up the TSA workforce,” he said. “We’re working with Congress now for more funding. Congress has approved more funding.”

And the TSA plans to have about 800 new officers on board by June, he said.

Johnson also sought to calm concerns about the safety of flights coming to the U.S. from overseas airports.

Every flight bound to the U.S., he said “has to be screened to U.S. standards."