We all know the process, remove all liquids from your bag, place your shoes on the x-ray belt, walk through the metal detector, etc. Travelling has always been a hassle and there has always been a level of security at airports and flights but it was not until after the events that transpired on September 11, 2001 that security substantially increased in airports and more rules and procedures were introduced to provide a higher level of safety.
After September 11th, the United States felt the necessity to create an administration to regulate airport safety. President Bush wanted to make sure to increase security before the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays and on November 19, 2001, Congress created the Aviation and Transportation Security ACT (ATSA). In order to improve security the “ATSA formed the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which was formerly headed under the Department of Transportation. On November 25, 2002 following the construction of the Homeland Security Act, TSA was assigned to the Department of Homeland Security.”
Over the years, however, there have been various problems with airport security breaches and TSA has been scrutinized for not being diligent with their job responsibilities. Rep. Adam Schiff has spoken out about security problems at Unites States airports and ABC news has reported that, “according to officials briefed on the results of a recent Homeland Security Inspector General’s report, TSA agents failed 67 out of 70 tests.”
After the October 31, 2015, Russian Metrojet incident, the American public has become concerned that a lapse in airport security could happen here as well. Although foreign airports that service U.S. airlines must comply with Transportation Safety Administration regulations, there is a lack of direct oversight, which is what is of major concern.
But, what can be done to settle these fears? Increase security in foreign airports? How will there be a direct over sight? And most importantly, if there are security breaches within United States soil already, then how can we guarantee safety in airports abroad? As previously stated, TSA agents have failed countless number of tests at major US airports. In fact the concern only seems to escalate when you take into account that, “73 airport workers in the United States with access to secure areas who only six months ago were identified by officials at the Department of Homeland Security as being in a federal database of possible terrorists.”
The creation of TSA and the implementation of harsher security clearings have already occurred. Flights coming in from airports in the Middle East have already been imposed with heightened security clearings. In fact, “Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson announced in June that he was implementing new measures to “address the potential insider threat” by mandating biannual background checks for workers at U.S. airports, while also requiring airports to reduce the number of access points to secured areas and to increase randomized screening of airport employees.”
Although increasing TSA security in overseas airports is an arguably important task, security measures need to be addressed and fixed here in the United States in order to make sure that a threat to National Security is not hiding under our noses.