The Birth of the Transportation Security Administration

1
The Birth of the Transportation Security
Administration
2
Systemic Weaknesses Exploited By the 9/11
Hijackers

• Insecure cockpit doors
• Lax passenger screening standards
• Flawed policy requiring flight attendants to
  carry cockpit keys
• Neglecting to deal with disruptive passengers

3
Immediate Response after 9/11

• National concern with preventing another
  hijacking became a frantic obsession.
• Cockpit doors were reinforced
• National Guardsmen were dispatched to airports
• Military jets patrolled the skies, prepared to
  shoot down any hijacked aircraft
• Suspicious behavior on the ground or in a plane
  resulted in terminal evacuation or fighter jet
  escort to closest airport.
• Passengers cancelled vacation plans that required
  air travel
• Employees travel schedules were halted

4

• Many empty seats were available on flights.
• The Travel Industry Association spent a fortune
  on patriotic advertisements.
• These Ads implied that Americans had a
  responsibility as good citizens to travel, spend
  money, and prove that the American way of life
  was stronger than before the terrorists attacks.

5
High Priority Issues for Congress

• Which government department would be charged with
  the aviation security function.
• What would be the ultimate status of airport
  security screeners.

6
Reasons Against DOT Oversight

• Fears were that market forces would ultimately
  dictate policy and compromise public safety just
  as they had in the past.
• DOT was not a national security or primary law
  enforcement agency.
• Trying to reinforce the present system by adding
  another level of federal supervision and
  regulation to DOT was likely to fail.

7
Options Considered for the Status of Screeners

• First Option FAA oversight of the screeners as
  federal employees.
• This option was dismissed as congressional
  members recognized that the FAAs failure to
  regulate the airline industry was in large part
  responsible for the failures of 9/11.
• Second Option place screeners under the domain
  of a new federal agency charged with aviation
  security.
• Third Option place screeners into an existing
  law enforcement agency of the federal government.

8
The Emergence of A New Agency

• Because of the relationship between the airline
  industry and Congress, it is no surprise that
  Option Two was selected.
• A new federal agency, under the control and
  jurisdiction of the DOT, was created by Congress
  to assume all civil aviation security functions
  and responsibilities that had been previously
  performed by the FAA.
• With the DOT still in charge, the airlines and
  Congress would still be able to influence any
  decisions made by the new agency.
• Eventually the TSA was moved to the Department of
  Homeland Security.

9
The Aviation and Transportation Security Act

• President Bush signed the ATSA on November 19,
  2001 creating the Transportation Security
  Administration.
• The legislation made the TSA responsible for the
  day-to-day security screening operations for
  passenger air transportation and interstate air
  transportation.
• All functions related to aviation security
  previously under the control of the FAA were to
  be transferred to the TSA. Personnel, property,
  records, unexpended fund balances, and all
  related FAA authority were transferred to TSA.

10
Functions and Responsibilities of the TSA

• Hiring, training, testing, and deploying or
  arranging for federal security screeners, federal
  security personnel, federal law enforcement
  officers, and federal security managers at all
  U.S. Airports
• Mandated to research, develop, and deploy
  security equipment and programs at U.S. airports
• Coordinate transportation security intelligence
  information
• Coordinate transportation security efforts with
  fedral and state agencies
• Deal with threats to transportation

11
TSA and Optional Security Enhancements

• President Bush encouraged the TSA to explore
  optional enhanced security measures such as
• Providing for 911 emergency call capability on
  passenger aircraft
• Generating a uniform ID system for state and
  local law enforcement officers carrying weapons
  on aircraft or in secure areas
• Issuing requirements for a trusted traveler
  program
• Using technology for secure plane-to-ground
  threat communication
• Developing photo and biometric imprints on all
  pilot licenses
• Assessing voice stress biometric technology for
  screening potential threats
• Implementing instant air-to-ground communications

12
TSA Job Descriptions

• Level One trainee screeners
• Must attend and pass classroom and on the job
  training administered by TSA
• Conduct screening of passengers, baggage, and
  cargo under supervision of a Federal Civil
  Aviation Screening Supervisor
• Must progress to Level Two or be terminated.
• Level Two fully trained and certified
  screeners.
• Conduct screening of passengers, baggage, and
  cargo
• Have completed all training and certification
• Have been on the job for over a year.

13

• Level Three fully trained and certified
  advanced screeners
• On the job at Level Two for over a year.
• Certified to use specialized explosives-detection
  equipment.
• Manager Level One Screening Supervisor first
  level supervisor of screeners
• Provide direct day-to-day supervision of Level
  One, Two, and Three screeners
• Manager Level Two Screening Supervisor
• Supervise the Manager Level One Managers and
  their subordinates