Congressional report calls TSA 'bloated'
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Congressional report calls TSA 'bloated'
By: Bart Jansen, USA TODAY
The Transportation Security Administration is a bloated agency
plagued by significant problems, says a congressional report
released Wednesday on the 10th anniversary of the agency's
creation. But an agency spokesman called the report a disservice to
the workers.
According to the report, "A Decade Later: A Call for TSA
Reform," TSA is:
•A bloated bureaucracy with 65,000 workers, including nearly
4,000 at headquarters and 9,656 administrators in the field.
•An ineffective agency, with 25,000 security breaches in the
last decade.
•A sponsor of inadequate technology, including 500
advanced-imaging technology machines costing $122 million that are
"easily thwarted" and $39 million wasted on explosive-detection
"puffer" machines that were unreliable.
"Unfortunately, TSA has lost its way," said Rep. John Mica,
R-Fla., chairman of the House Transportation Committee, at a news
conference. "It is time for reform. TSA must become … a thinking,
risk-based, flexible agency that analyzes risks, sets security
standards and audits security performance."
But TSA spokesman Greg Soule said the agency has developed a
highly trained workforce that has screened 5 billion passengers and
prevented more than 1,100 guns from being brought onto planes this
year.
"At a time when our country's aviation system is safer, stronger
and more secure than it was 10 years ago, this report is an
unfortunate disservice to the dedicated men and women of TSA who
are on the front lines every day protecting the traveling public,"
he said.
TSA is developing risk-based security measures, such as an
experimental pre-check program for frequent fliers to move more
swiftly through screening at a handful of airports.
"Each of these initiatives … enhances our ability to provide the
most effective security, focusing on those who present the highest
risk, in the most efficient way possible," Soule said.
While Mica has become a vocal critic of the agency, others have
been more supportive.
In a U.S. Travel Association survey, also out Wednesday,
two-thirds of the 604 respondents were somewhat or very satisfied
with TSA's overall performance; only one in eight were
dissatisfied. But nearly nine out of 10 said it still takes too
long to get through security.
The congressional report recommends:
•Elevating the TSA administrator's authority.
•Revising the luggage-screening program to allow more
competition with private security companies.
•Reducing staff.