TSA Chief Out After Agents Fail 95 Percent of Airport Breach Tests

The acting head of the Transportation Security Administration was reassigned Monday after an internal investigation by the Department of Homeland Security found security failures at dozens of the nation’s busiest airports. The breaches allowed undercover investigators to smuggle weapons, fake explosives and other contraband through numerous checkpoints.

Melvin Carraway, an 11-year veteran of the TSA who became acting administrator in January, was immediately reassigned to a DHS program coordinating with local law enforcement agencies, DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson said Monday night. Coast Guard Vice Adm. Pete Neffenger’s nomination to be permanent administrator is awaiting Senate confirmation.

Upon learning the initial findings of the Office of Inspector General’s report, Johnson immediately directed TSA to implement a series of other actions, several of which are now in place, agency officials said.

In one case, an alarm sounded, but even during a pat-down, the screening officer failed to detect a fake plastic explosive taped to an undercover agent’s back. In all, so-called “Red Teams” of Homeland Security agents posing as passengers were able get weapons past TSA agents in 67 out of 70 tests — a 95 percent failure rate, according to agency officials.

“The numbers in these reports never look good out of context, but they are a critical element in the continual evolution of our aviation security,” Homeland Security officials said in a statement.

Source: TSA Chief Out After Agents Fail 95 Percent of Airport Breach Tests

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One Response to TSA Chief Out After Agents Fail 95 Percent of Airport Breach Tests

  1. Tens of billions of dollar (7.39 billion in 2014 alone) of taxpayer money spent (not to mention long lines, forced pat downs and other inconveniences) for an organization that fails to do its job 95% of the time? I’m not sure what kind of “context” could possibly make those numbers look good.