Still “reasonably effective"

 


The Transportation Safety Administration is again under fire.

TSA is responsible for the security screening of passengers at airports.

This is the same agency that hired security screeners who turned out to have ties with terrorists.

Now the agency is catching heat again. This time it is for massive delays at some of the nation's airports.

Lines are reportedly atrocious, backing up more than ever in the past. Travelers are getting frustrated and angry.

In fact, many who arrive at airports more than two hours ahead of their flights are kept in security lines so long that they cannot board in time and have to book other flights.

The director of the TSA says that the agency is working on improving the efficiency of the security lines. Reportedly, the number of agents is inadequate, so more are being hired and trained.

The fix, however, will take awhile. Improvements supposedly will not be in effect until after the peak summer travel season.

It has gotten so bad that some airports are considering hiring private security firms to help out. Either the new security forces will replace the TSA agents or supplement them.

Security at airports is important. Still, the irony is obvious: Jets are the fastest mode of travel, but getting to the plane sometimes can take longer than the flight itself.

When faced with the scandal of hiring very suspicious people to conduct security checks, the agency responded that its hiring practices were “reasonably effective.” That is not a satisfactory answer.

“Reasonably effective” should not be the standard for security.

Nor should it be the standard for handling throngs of passengers.

“Reasonably effective” does not make for much confidence, and it is not what air travelers want to hear when the news is full of warnings and anticipated threats.

Maybe the organization’s goals are just too low.

“Highly effective” would be a better one.

Gordon Forgey

Publisher

 

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