New York Senator Charles Schumer called for more Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at New York City airports to streamline lines that have become clogged as more people travel during the summer.
Advertisement
CNN reports that the Government Accountability Office issued a scathing report that includes the TSA’ failure to update recommendations to account for new potential threats.
“TSA also continues to identify ways to partner and collaborate with industry in performing vulnerability assessments and mitigating risks to transportation security”, Jim Crumpacker, the Department of Homeland Security’s liaison to GAO, said in a formal reply to the report.
On Tuesday this week, a Woodbridge, Virginia, man was charged with possession of a firearm, a Class 1 misdemeanor, after he attempted to bring a loaded 9mm handgun through a security checkpoint at Dulles International Airport outside of Washington, D.C., a local Fox network reported.
TSA said agents stopped the man at the airport’s security checkpoint after the officer manning the checkpoint X-ray spotted the the handgun in the man’s carry-on bag.
The announcement comes after some lawmakers, including Congressman John Mica had suggested some of changes being made in his “TSA for Dummies” presentation which highlighted some of the agencies problems with efficiency and personnel management (story HERE).
“The big difference is that because these are private contractors, their staffing can be a little more efficient than the TSA”, Harteveldt says. Airport officials said that’s a 12 percent increase over a year ago. The security reviews also covered more than half – 33 of 57 – of the medium hubs, while neglecting most smaller airports.
Advertisement
The TSA has come under unrelenting pressure from Congress, airlines, and passengers at the outset of a summer when a near-record number of passengers say they plan to fly.
