Don’t expect changes anytime soon to long airport security lines, no matter what remedies Congress may try to implement. The Reason Foundation’s director of transportation Bob Poole says there are a couple of untried tactics the TSA could implement, however, that would make a difference quickly.
The first method, Poole says, would include “converting some 2,800 TSA Behavior Detection Officers back to their original screening duties and immediately launching the long-delayed third-party pre-check recruitment.” Poole said recent long lines evolved from the TSA’s reliance on a single contractor to handle pre-check security background and fingerprint checks, as well as the agency’s wholly inaccurate prediction of how many people would actually sign up for the program.
TSA has already vetted additional contractors, but the agency’s hierarchy has resisted green-lighting the additional help. Sources claim that was one reason assistant administrator for security operations Kelly Hogan was shown the door on May 23.
Poole added that the agency has changed contractor requirements to participate so many times that, “I’m surprised any of the companies are still willing to participate after such lengthy delays.”
For a lengthier analysis of pre-check’s poor track record, check out my video below.
