TSA halts private security screener program
In an about face, the TSA has halted its private screening program at airports; last December the TSA declared that it was neutral on the program, however last Friday the TSA denied an airport in Missouri its request for private screeners and declared that it would reject all incoming proposals; Representative John Mica, a vocal advocate for the program, was shocked to hear of TSA’s new plan and promised to launch an investigation into the matter; currently less than twenty airports use private security screeners
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently announced that it was halting its program that allowed airports to opt out of TSA screeners and use private security contractors instead.
This comes as a surprise to many, as the program recently received heightened attention due to increased anger over TSA’s enhanced pat-down procedures.
TSA administrator John Pistole said, in statement, that he “examined the contractor screening program and decided not to expand the program beyond the current 16 airports as I do not see any clear or substantial advantage to do so at this time.”
A month ago, the agency said that it was “neutral” on the program.
Representative John Mica (R- Florida), the new chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, has been a particularly vociferous advocate for the private security screening program.
Last December Mica sent roughly 200 airports letters encouraging them to switch from TSA screeners to private contractors.
In the past, he has also stated that, “The private screening under federal supervision works and performs statistically, significantly better. So our main purpose here is in getting better screening and better performance, not to mention that we can get better cost for the taxpayers.”
In response to Mica’s calls for expanded private contractors, a TSA spokesman declared last December that, “If airports chose this route, we are going to work with them to do it.”
In an about face, last Friday, the TSA denied a regional airport in Missouri its request for private screeners.
Pistole noted that other applications would be similarly rejected.
After hearing of the TSA’s new policy, Mica lashed out at the organization promising to launch an investigation into the matter.
Mica said “It’s unimaginable that TSA would suspend the most successfully performing passenger screening program we’ve had over the last decade.” He added, “Nearly every positive security innovation since the beginning of TSA has come from the contractor screening program.”
While Mica points to the efficacy of the private screening program, government analysis shows similar results from both TSA employees and private contractors.
A Government Accountability Office (GAO) study found that it “did not notice any difference” between the two programs during covert checkpoint testing in 2007.
The GAO concluded that both failed to find concealed bomb components.
The private screening program is run entirely by the TSA, hiring, training, and paying private contractors.
Advocates of the private screening program say that because they are private companies, they can hold their employees accountable thereby improving a passenger’s experience.
According to NPR, less than twenty airports around the United States use private security screeners including Kansas City, San Francisco, and Jackson Hole.
