Dozens of airports want to implement the Registered Traveler program, which offers faster checkpoint screening for travelers who have already passed a background check. But so far only Orlando International Airport has the program. The other airports are waiting for approval from the TSA, which has been evaluating a test run of the program since Sept. 30.

"We had major theaters of World War II faster than they've rolled out this project," says Rep. Dan Lungren, R-Calif., chairman of the House subcommittee that oversees the TSA. "I really want to get on the record why TSA is taking so long."

Lungren says technology companies have told him that they could launch Registered Traveler at the USA's 50 largest airports in 60 days.

Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., says that if TSA Director Kip Hawley can't give a "definite date" today for expanding Registered Traveler, he'll consider legislation requiring TSA to implement the program. "There's tremendous frustration," DeFazio says.

Lawmakers first called for a trusted-traveler program four years ago as they toughened aviation security after the Sept. 11 attacks. By minimizing scrutiny of people who have provided proof that they are unlikely to be terrorists, screeners can spend more time focusing on other travelers who may pose a greater risk.

The agency said in June that it would be ready to expand the program at the end of September. But when that time came, the TSA stopped test programs that had run for more than a year at five airports besides Orlando.

TSA spokeswoman Yolanda Clark says the agency "is committed to developing" Registered Traveler and is undertaking "a careful review of how we want to move forward."

More than 10,000 people have paid $80 to join the Registered Traveler program at the Orlando airport. Enrollees have their own expedited security line. Enrollees also avoid being subject to hand searches and pat-downs unless they set off a metal-detector alarm.

"People have only one complaint: How come it's not in other airports?" says Steven Brill, president of the company that oversees Orlando's program.