Transportation Security Administration

Transportation Security Administration

Is the TSA effective? Why?

The TSA is effective mainly because there has not been a successful attack against the United States commercial aviation in 20 years since the 9/11 terrorist attack. In December 20001, the TSA was able to stop a terrorist attack by identifying a shoe bomber who had boarded an American Airlines flight from Paris to Miami. The incident prompted the TSA to have passengers willingly remove their shoes when being screened at the security checkpoints at the airport (Schaper,2021). In December 2002, the TSA deployed machines that can scan bags for dangerous weapons and explosives in every airport in the United States. In April 2003, the TSA started training personnel in the flight deck on how to use firearms on board if the need arose and allowed pilots to carry firearms and other cockpit protections on board. In August 2006, the TSA banned all aerosols, gels, and liquids on board after British authorities stopped a passenger from detonating a liquid explosive. In March 2008, the TSA started deploying canine teams to help in screening the luggage loaded onto passenger planes at airports in the United States. In December 2009, the TSA started installing body scanners that used advanced imaging technology after some al-Qaida extremist tried detonating an improvised explosive device he had hidden in his underwear (Schaper, 2021). In December 2011, the TSA began conducting risk assessments on passengers before their arrival at the airport checkpoints through thorough background checks.

How could the TSA improve its interaction with the public and minimize the number of security incidents at airports?

TSA could use social media to interact with the public and receive feedback on the measures being taken to enhance the security of air travel. It could also request the public to provide their recommendations on what can be done to enhance security, thus minimizing the number of security incidents at airports. It could also allow members of the public to privately contact officials via the agency’s website or a toll-free number to provide airport security agents with tips concerning security threats, hence preventing security incidents before they occur (Wong, S., & Brooks,2015). Another strategy that TSA could use to improve its interaction with the public is educating the members of the public about the importance of reporting security threats on time. This can be done via social media campaigns.TSA could also consider creating community projects that allow the public to interact with security agents hence creating rapport and encouraging collaboration in addressing security incidents.

How effective are the TSA technology programs in adapting to the security environment and threats?

The TSA technology programs are highly effective in adapting to the security environment and threats. For instance, the agency continues evolving to address new threats with a layered approach that incorporates intelligence, technology, and surveillance. According to Schaper (2021), the agency has also employed more than 60,000 employees and spends a lot of money annually in an effort to stay ahead of possible domestic and foreign terrorists. The agency is also expanding the use of biometric screening and facial recognition technology (Koenig, 2021). Biometric screening methods are aimed at enabling the government to track a person’s whereabouts abroad and at home, while facial recognition will ensure that the photo taken by the system matches the one on the airline’s file, thus speeding up the process used to screen passengers and ensuring that the details provided by a passenger are correct (Hafer, 2009). The agency is also training its staff on how to identify security threats by using modern technologies such as screening gadgets. The agency has also been training the flight deck and pilots on how to use firearms on board to ensure that they are ready to deal with any security threat that may occur onboard based on the fact that terrorists are adopting new strategies to bypass airport security checks and could board airplanes with dangerous weapons or explosives.

References

Hafer, M. W. (2009). Transportation Security Administration in defense of the national aviation infrastructure. https://doi.org/10.21236/ada539963

Koenig, D. (2021, September 6). How 9/11 changed air travel: More security, less privacy. AP NEWS. https://apnews.com/article/how-sept-11-changed-flying-1ce4dc4282fb47a34c0b61ae09a024f4

Schaper, D. (2021, September 10). It was shoes on, no boarding pass or ID. But airport security forever changed on 9/11. NPR.org. https://www.npr.org/2021/09/10/1035131619/911-travel-timeline-tsa

Wong, S., & Brooks, N. (2015). Evolving risk-based security: A review of current issues and emerging trends impacting security screening in the aviation industry. Journal of Air Transport Management, 48, 60-64.

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-Examine the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) policy development, interaction with the public, and use of technology for the protection of transportation systems against terrorist attacks. Then, discuss the following:

Transportation Security Administration

-Use Web resources, including government audits, think-tank reports, academic publications, current news, and social media to assess the effectiveness of the TSA’s interaction with the public.
Identify key issues that impact the interactions and provide insights and recommendations based on your research and the assigned readings.
Focus on the efforts of the TSA to leverage technology to protect the transportation sector and minimize the impact on the users while trying to achieve a balance between security and the expedited movement of goods and people.
-You are expected to research current policies, strategies, and publications on the subject to analyze the effectiveness of TSA efforts to use technology to protect the transportation infrastructure. After completing the appropriate research, answer the following questions:

-Is the TSA effective? Why?
-How could the TSA improve its interaction with the public and minimize the number of security incidents at airports?
-How effective are the TSA technology programs in adapting to the security environment and threats?