PHOTO: The TSA will review its operations at New York airports later this year. File Photo
U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) last Thursday announced that, after a meeting with newly sworn-in Transportation Security Administration Administrator Peter Neffenger, the agency has pledged to move forward with a complete overhaul of employee training procedures, the first phase of which will be completed by this September.
Earlier this year, following the results of Red Team testing that revealed that agents failed to uncover 67 out of 70 threats at airports across the country, Schumer called for a top-to-bottom review of TSA employee training procedures and their effectiveness.
Schumer also announced that the TSA will conduct full review of employee screening procedures to determine the most effective reforms, including a review of TSA Operations in New York later this year. In January, a large gun running ring exposed a loophole that allowed errant airline employees to smuggle guns, drugs and explosives onto planes because often times, airport employees are exempt from going through metal detectors. Schumer urged the TSA to require each airport to develop a comprehensive screening process for all employees.
“This announcement means that the TSA will work to detect and close major loopholes in our nation’s security system by overhauling and reviewing employee training and screening procedures,” said Schumer. “The fact that mock passengers were able to sneak dangerous items—be it guns or fake explosives through airport security lines is not just a problem, it is an unacceptable vulnerability, and I am pleased that the TSA is moving to address this. The newly sworn-in TSA administrator has assured me that an overhaul of employee training procedures is taking place and the issues raised in the Red Team tests will be addressed by the end of September. I will continue to work hard to make sure the TSA leaves no stone unturned when it comes to airport security.”
In July, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson addressed the Red Team testing results.
“A little over a month ago the preliminary results of an Inspector General’s test of TSA’s screening at airports leaked to the press. The IG’s tests were fairly discreet—just 70 tests across eight airports,” Johnson said. “But, the results were completely unsatisfactory. The American traveling public is entitled to know that air travel is safe, and that, as taxpayers, they are getting what they pay for.”
Jeh went on to detail an initiative to improve the agency and its screening and security measures.
“The 10-point plan I described here today is in reaction to the latest round of tests by the IG, and is not meant to be the all-inclusive future for TSA,” Jeh said. “We must continually and comprehensively evaluate and re-evaluate what is best for aviation security. We must question assumptions, and never become comfortable or complacent when it comes to aviation security.”
Each day, Schumer noted, TSA screens about 1.8 million airline passengers and about 1.2 million checked bags.
By Michael V. Cusenza michael@theforumnewsgroup.com
