Airport Insecurity: TSA's Failure to Cost-Effectively Procure, Deploy and Warehouse its Screening Technologies. Joint Majority Staff Report. 112th Congress

摘要

The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, led to dramatic reforms in how the federal government protects the traveling public and the Nations transportation sector. Securing commercial aviation became a top priority for Congress and resulted in the development and passage of the Aviation and Transportation Security Act of 2001 (ATSA). ATSA created the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and directed the agency to secure travelers through improved passenger and baggage screening operations. To successfully carry out its mission, TSA utilizes many layers of security, including screening technology. This report is a critical examination and analysis of TSA's procurement, deployment, and storage of screening technologies. During the past ten years, TSA has struggled to cost-effectively utilize taxpayer funding to procure and deploy security equipment at the Nations 463 airports where TSA provides screening operations. This report highlights serious inefficiencies in TSA' management and deployment of screening technology, and provides recommendations for the improvement of TSA's role in securing the U.S. transportation system. The report makes recommendations emphasizing TSA's need to more effectively develop its deployment strategy prior to the procurement of screening technologies. In addition, TSA must look for ways to reduce significant shipping costs for the thousands of pieces of equipment it deploys annually.