The recent shortcomings of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) are not passing problems—there is a need for “fundamental” reform within the government agency, according to a panel of security specialists that convened at The Heritage Foundation on Tuesday.
Chad Wolf, the former assistant administrator of the TSA, Ha Nguyen, a former adviser at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and Brian Finch, an attorney specializing in cybersecurity and government affairs, expressed their concerns at a public forum entitled “Perspectives on the State of the TSA: Exploring Possible Reforms to the Transportation Security Administration.”
The panelists spoke about problems with the TSA that have recently come to light, including the recent ABC News report that TSA workers failed to detect fake weapons and explosives at 67 of 70 checkpoints in a recent nationwide test. The TSA has also received criticism after it was discovered last week that 73 airport employees were hired despite their “potential links to terrorism.”
During a wide-ranging and energetic discussion, the panel assessed the agency’s capability to respond to sudden threats and improve security for U.S. travelers. At the forefront of the conversation was the need for improved leadership at the administrative level, as well as technical innovation on the ground in our nation’s airports.
One idea that received notable attention from the panelists was an expansion of the PreCheck program, which streamlines the screening and customs process for low-risk passengers. By expanding trusted traveler programs like PreCheck, the TSA can devote more resources to “unknown” travelers and adopt a broader risk-based approach to security.
Another market-based reform with great potential is the Screening Partnership Program (SPP). Following TSA directives, private airport screeners are able to check bags and screen passengers, which has been shown to increase efficiency without sacrificing security. A number of other countries currently use a private-public model, and several U.S. airports have already followed suit.
During the presentation and Q&A session, the panelists highlighted a number of other areas where the TSA could pursue reform. A culture of regulation and compliance hampers overall security, due to the fast rate of technical obsolescence in the industry. Regular testing and probes, much like the ones that recently made headlines, are necessary to ensure that screeners can detect new and dynamic threats.
The severe failures of the TSA are inexcusable. Reforms that increase efficiency, incentivize innovation over mere compliance, test security outcomes, and expand risk-based security are the immediate solutions for the agency’s troubles.
Ryan Spaude is currently a member of the Young Leaders Program at The Heritage Foundation. For more information on interning at Heritage, please click here.
