Audit: Airport screening needs more risk study
WASHINGTON — The government has installed high-tech passenger screening equipment at airports without fully measuring whether the technologies address the most serious risks to aviation, congressional auditors found.
Most of the decisions to introduce new passenger screening devices at airports have been based on threats described in intelligence reports. While this is important, the Government Accountability Office said these threats also need to be measured against how vulnerable air systems are to them and against the full consequences if the threat were successfully carried out.
The auditors said the Transportation Security Administration has not completed this full assessment of threat, vulnerability and consequences together. As a result, TSA cannot get a complete picture of the potential risk from any particular threat and it cannot be sure that its investments in screening devices address the greatest risks to aviation, the auditors said.
Nor can TSA measure whether an appropriate amount of money has been spent on the machines, the auditors said.
Their report noted that since TSA was created after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, 10 passenger screening technologies have been either put into research and development, testing or put in use at some airports. Among these are:
—A scanner designed to detect explosives hidden in shoes, like those used by convicted would-be shoe bomber Richard Reid, who tried to ignite his device on a trans-Atlantic flight in 2001.
—A walkthrough portal designed to detect traces of explosive residue on clothing.
—A whole body imager which gives screeners an image of a passenger’s body surface unobscured by the passenger’s clothing. In a pilot program to evaluate the technology, TSA screeners are currently using 46 units, with two different types of technology, at 23 U.S. airports, according to TSA’s Web site.
TSA said in its response to the GAO report that the agency has considered threat, vulnerability and consequence when it makes decisions about technology.
The report, released Thursday, is a public version of a restricted report provided to lawmakers earlier this year.
“A comprehensive and sensible strategic plan is critical to ensure that the government minimizes waste while securing the flying public,” said Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee.
TSA spokeswoman Kristin Lee said the GAO audit began three years ago, and since then the agency has “taken steps to strengthen testing procedures and improve the strategic deployment of emerging technologies.”
On the Net:
GAO report: www.gao.gov/new.items/d10128.pdf
TSA imaging: www.tsa.gov/approach/tech/imaging(underscore)technology.shtm
Related News
Internal audit says Federal Housing Administration doing a poor job of evaluating lendersOctober 16th, 2009 Audit questions FHA's ability to screen lendersWASHINGTON — The government's mortgage insurance agency is doing a poor job of screening lenders that enter the program, an internal audit has found. The audit was completed last month by the Department of Housing and Urban Development's inspector general.
EU says airline restrictions on liquids in carry-on luggage will end with new screeningOctober 9th, 2009 EU to end airline ban on liquids in carry-on bagsBRUSSELS — The European Union's top transport official said Friday that restrictions on airline passengers carrying liquids in carry-on luggage will end when new screening technology is introduced. EU Transport Commissioner Antonio Tajani said the rules won't expire as originally planned in April because machines to check bags for liquid explosives aren't yet widely available.
Audit done after shooting says SF transit officers need more trainingSeptember 30th, 2009 Audit after shooting says officers need trainingOAKLAND, Calif. — An audit done after the fatal shooting of an unarmed man says San Francisco Bay area transit officers need more training and presence on trains and at stations.
Impact of renewable energy on marine life must be investigated, say scientistsSeptember 18th, 2009 WASHINGTON - In a new study, scientists from the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth, UK, are calling for urgent research to understand the impact of renewable energy developments on marine life. The study highlights potential environmental benefits and threats resulting from marine renewable energy, such as off-shore wind farms and wave and tidal energy conversion devices.
Ford says its supports federal legislation pressuring states to ban texting while drivingSeptember 11th, 2009 Ford backs bill to ban texting while drivingWASHINGTON — Ford said Thursday it backs federal legislation pressuring states to ban texting while driving in an effort to reduce driver distractions that could lead to accidents. In a statement, Ford safety executive Sue Cischke cited research that shows drivers who take their eyes off the road for extended periods increase the risk of accidents.
'Indian VIP exemption list does not mirror US requirements'July 24th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Backing Continental Airlines on the controversial screening of former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the US agency responsible for security of US transportation systems has made it clear that it cannot accept an Indian list exempting VIPs from security checks.
Screening for depressive symptoms in kids could start in second gradeJuly 22nd, 2009 WASHINGTON - Screening for depressive symptoms among children, could begin as early as the second grade, according to a new University of Washington study. In the study, the researchers followed nearly 1,000 children from the second to the eighth grades, and found five distinct patterns for the way symptoms of depression develop among adolescents.
State Department still struggling with laptop security a decade after embarrassing lapseJuly 9th, 2009 Diplomats still struggling with laptop lapsesWASHINGTON — Nearly a decade after a State Department laptop containing highly classified information disappeared in an embarrassing security lapse, the agency is still unable to account for all of its portable computers, a government report said Wednesday. The State Department's inspector general said Wednesday that a review of a sample of 334 laptops belonging to four departmental bureaus found that 27 were missing at the time of the audit and that 172, including nine of 14 classified laptops labeled "secret," were not protected with encryption software, potentially risking sensitive information.
Airlines will be asking birthdates and gender for new TSA 'Secure Flight' programJune 1st, 2009 Airlines will ask birthdates for new TSA programWASHINGTON — Don't be surprised if you're asked to provide your date of birth and gender when booking plane tickets later this summer. The Transportation Security Administration has launched a new program called "Secure Flight" to improve security and reduce misidentification of passengers who have names similar to individuals on government watch lists.
Girls with childhood abuse history 'at early menarche risk'May 19th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A new study has found that girls with a history of childhood abuse are at a risk of early menarche or onset of their menstrual periods before age 12 years. Lead researcher Lauren A.
Torture devices dating from 16th century to be auctioned in NY to benefit anti-torture groupsMay 6th, 2009 Centuries-old torture devices to be auctioned offNEW YORK — A large variety of torture devices dating from the 16th century are being auctioned off to benefit anti-torture groups, including Amnesty International. The gruesome collection includes so-called shame masks to enforce silence, a 14-foot rack to stretch a victim's body, a tongue tearer to punish blasphemers and heretics, and an executioner's ax.
Study links depression to accumulation of visceral fatApril 29th, 2009 WASHINGTON - In a new study, Rush University Medical Center scientists have shown that depression is linked with the accumulation of visceral fat - the kind of fat packed between internal organs at the waistline. Visceral fat has long been known to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Questions that can diagnose low sexual desire in womenApril 6th, 2009 WASHINGTON - It takes only a few simple and quick questions to determine whether a woman has low sexual desire, says a new study. The study enrolled 263 women at 27 centres throughout the US who took the decreased sexual desire screening test and their answers were reviewed with a clinician who was not an expert in female sexual desire.
Yellow eye is an unreliable indicator of jaundice risk in infants: StudyMarch 25th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Paediatric researchers have found that common practice of visual inspection (looking for yellowish eye, or skin tone) is not a reliable method to predict a newborn's risk of jaundice. The yellowness comes from a blood byproduct, bilirubin, and a child that develops high levels of bilirubin has a potentially serious condition called hyperbilirubinemia.
Family history linked to increased blood clot riskMarch 24th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Children and siblings of people with venous thrombosis, or blood clots in the veins, may be more than twice as likely to develop the condition than those without a family history, say Dutch researchers. Venous thrombosis typically begins in leg veins, although the clot may subsequently break off and travel to the lungs.
Loading ...