TSA head vows to close security breaches at US airports

THE new leader of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said on Wednesday, July 29 that his top priority would be to close security gaps at airport checkpoints, where an internal report showed 96 percent of undercover tests failed.

The recent Department of Homeland Security (DHS) report found that investigators could sneak fake bombs and weapons fairly easily through security with a 95 percent success rate.

The report, led by Homeland Security Inspector General John Roth, also found that the TSA failed to detect at least 73 people with links to terrorism who were hired by US airports.

Peter Neffenger, the agency’s newly-appointed administrator, told a congressional panel that front-line TSA employees would be trained as soon as September to avoid the pitfalls that led to those failures.

“My highest priority is to ensure solutions to the recent covert testing failures,” Neffenger said.

Lawmakers opened the US House of Representatives hearing with references to the report, which found airport screeners unable to detect banned weapons in 67 of 70 tests at dozens of airport checkpoints. The findings prompted widespread criticism that the TSA was emphasizing speed over security.

“These findings shatter public confidence,” said Republican Michael McCaul, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee. “What are you planning to do as the new TSA administrator to address this enormous failure?”

Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson reassigned the acting TSA administrator last month, and announced crucial steps to improve security at airports.

Neffenger said the agency would also improve its expedited screening procedures and tighten oversight of security badges.

The former Coast Guard vice admiral, who has been in the job four weeks, will become head of a poorly-efficient, “struggling” security agency.

Rep. Bennie Thompson, the committee’s senior Democrat, cited multiple breaches caused by airport employees exploiting security gaps and personnel problems within the agency.

“TSA is plagued with very low morale and an extremely high turnover rate,” Thompson said.

Rep. John Katko also cited control over who gets access to airport’s secure areas as a “major, gaping hole” in airport security nationwide.

In addition, the New York Republican-sponsored legislation to tighten security standards for airport employees after recent incidents involving the trafficking of drugs and guns by employees. (With reports from Reuters, AFP)