Aviation Security: DHS Has Made Progress in Securing the Commercial Aviation System, but Key Challenges Remain Page: 2 of 24
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GAO
Accountability. Integrity. Reliability
IHighlights
Highlights of GAO-08-139T, a testimony to
the Subcommittee on Transportation
Security and Infrastructure Protection,
House Committee on Homeland Security,
Why GAO Did This Study
Within the Department of
Homeland Security (DHS), the
Transportation Security
Administration's (TSA) mission is
to protect the nation's
transportation network. Since its
inception in 2001, TSA has
developed and implemented a
variety of programs and procedures
to secure commercial aviation.
GAO examined (1) the progress
DHS and TSA have made in
securing the nation's commercial
aviation system, and (2) challenges
that have impeded the
Department's efforts to implement
its mission and management
functions. This testimony is based
on issued GAO reports and
testimonies addressing the security
of the nation's commercial aviation
system, including a recently issued
report (GAO-07-454) that highlights
the progress DHS has made in
implementing its mission and
management functions.
In prior reports, GAO made a
number of recommendations to
DHS and TSA to strengthen their
efforts to secure the commercial
aviation system. DHS and TSA
generally agreed with the
recommendations and have taken
steps to implement some of them.AVIATION SECURITY
DHS Has Made Progress in Securing the Commercial
Aviation System, but Key Challenges Remain
What GAO Found
In August 2007, GAO reported that DHS had made moderate progress in
securing the commercial aviation system, but that more work remains.
Specifically, DHS generally achieved 17 of the 24 performance
expectations that GAO identified in the area of aviation security but had
generally not achieved 7 of them. DHS and TSA have made progress in
many areas related to securing commercial aviation. For example, to meet
congressional mandates to screen airline passengers and 100 percent of
checked baggage, TSA initially hired and deployed a federal workforce of
over 50,000 passenger and checked baggage screeners and installed
equipment at the nation's more than 400 commercial airports to provide
the capability to screen all checked baggage using explosive detection
systems. TSA has since turned its attention to, among other things,
strengthening passenger prescreening; more efficiently allocating,
deploying, and managing the transportation security officer (TSO)-
formerly known as screener-workforce; strengthening screening
procedures; developing and deploying more effective and efficient
screening technologies; and improving domestic air cargo security.
While these efforts have helped strengthen the security of the commercial
aviation system, DHS and TSA still face a number of key challenges in
further securing this system. For example, TSA has faced difficulties in
developing and implementing its advanced passenger prescreening system,
known as Secure Flight, and has not yet completed development efforts.
In addition, DHS's efforts to enhance perimeter security at airports may
not be sufficient to provide for effective security. TSA has also initiated
efforts to evaluate the effectiveness of security-related technologies, such
as biometric identification systems, but has not developed a plan for
implementing new technologies to meet the security needs of individual
airports. TSA has also not yet effectively deployed checkpoint
technologies to address key existing vulnerabilities, and has not yet
developed and implemented technologies needed to screen air cargo. GAO
also reported that a number of issues have impeded DHS's efforts in
implementing its mission and management functions, including not always
implementing effective strategic planning or fully adopting and applying a
risk management approach with respect to commercial aviation security.To view the full product, including the scope
and methodology, click on GAO-08-139T. For
more information, contact Cathleen Berrick at
(202) 512-3404 or berrickc@gao.gow.IUnited States Government Accountability Office
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United States. Government Accountability Office. Aviation Security: DHS Has Made Progress in Securing the Commercial Aviation System, but Key Challenges Remain, text, October 16, 2007; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc293222/m1/2/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.