An undercover operation to test TSA screenings found they failed to discover weapons and prohibited items about 70 to 80 percent of the time.
Undercover officers got through TSA checkpoints with mock knives, guns, and explosives more than 70 percent of the time, Homeland Security investigators told the House Homeland Security Committee Wednesday, CBS News reported.
A test two years ago found a 95 percent failure rate.
Eight classified recommendations were made based on the testing operation, and the TSA made a statement saying it took the findings “very seriously and are implementing measures that will improve screening effectiveness at checkpoints.”
Congress and the TSA both supported installing CT scanners in place of outdated checkpoint scanners, but current funding doesn’t allow that step to be taken, TSA administrator David Pekoske told Congress, CBS reported.
Democrat Rep. William Keating said during the committee meeting that $1.28 billion in TSA ticket surcharges is going to pay the national debt rather than to funding better security procedures, Newser reported.
“We have the technology and resources to do it but we’re not doing it because ... we’re paying for a wall,” Keating added.
Keating also noted Homeland Security Viper teams that use canines are being cut from 31 to eight, ABC News reported.
Twitter users questioned whether airports should still use TSA and lamented the security process.
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