Cartoon: Where Is the ‘Security’ in TSA?

Glenn Foden / June 05, 2015

According to ABC News, the Transportation Security Administration failed to stop undercover agents in 67 out of 70 recent probes.

David Inserra, who specializes in cyber and homeland security policy at The Heritage Foundation, wrote about the issue earlier this week:

Importantly, it exposes the reality that government screeners are not necessarily the right answer to airport screening.

Almost all European countries and Canada use private airport screeners. In the United States, airports have the right to opt out of TSA-administered screening through the Screening Partnership Program, which swaps out TSA screeners in favor of private contractors with TSA oversight. SPP has been found to result in screening that is more efficient, more customer friendly, less costly, and more secure.

With all these benefits and the precedent set by Europe and Canada, SPP is a no-brainer. Sadly, the program is subject to burdensome regulations and bureaucratic processes that limit its use.

So while Congress should ensure that the TSA fixes the current holes in airport screening, lawmakers should also consider expanding SPP as a longer term solution to improve transportation security.