Increasing Lines at TSA Checkpoints Create Security Risks for Airports

Increasing Lines at TSA Checkpoints Create Security Risks for Airports

TSA screener shortage exposes travelers to security risks

  • By Sydny Shepard
  • May 23, 2019

Over the weekend passengers at Seattle-Tacoma Airport in Seattle, Wash. were stuck in a security line that extended all the way into the parking garage. Passengers waited nearly two hours to move through the line before being screened by Transportation Security Administration agents at the checkpoint. 

In a House Homeland Security Committee Hearing on Tuesday in Washington D.C., Sec-Tac Airport Manager  Lance Lyttee told Congress that the shortage of TSA agents and screeners at the nation's eighth largest airport is contributing to these long lines and putting the airport and its travelers at risk of becoming "soft targets" in a mass shooter or terrorist attack.

"Lines that stretch through the terminal, past the ticket counters, over the sky bridges and into the packing garages compromise our ability to ensure public safety," Lyttle said. "Yet we see this scenario all too often, even before our summer travel season has begun, including just this last weekend. The ability of the TSA to hurt and retain staff is a major contributor to this challenge."

Lyttle referenced a Bloomberg Law study which found that between 2012 and 2016, the TSA at Sea-Tac Airport hired 858 new screening officers, but lost 772 of them - a 90 percent attrition rate.

Adding insult to injury, Lyttle told Congress that approximately 80 TSA security officers in the Puget Sound region have left for positions that offer higher pay since April 1. 

Lyttle testified that Sea-Tac's top priority is to ensure the swift and reliable processing at screening checkpoints, but staffing shortages have compromised the airport's ability to provide that. Sea-Tac's aging facilities are a factor, but TSA's own inability to retain agents is the "major contributing factor," stating that he had never seen all the screening lanes at the airport open because they had never had the staff to do so.

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

  • Accelerating a Pathway

    There is a new trend touting the transformational qualities of AI’s ability to deliver actionable data and predictive analysis that in many instances, seems to be a bit of an overpromise. The reality is that very few solutions in the cyber-physical security (CPS) space live up to this high expectation with the one exception being the new generation of Physical Identity and Access Management (PIAM) software – herein recategorized as PIAM+. Read Now

  • Protecting Your Zones

    It is game day. You can feel the crowd’s energy. In the parking lot. At the gate. In the stadium. On the concourse. Fans are eager to party. Food and merchandise vendors ready themselves for the rush. Read Now

  • Street Smarts

    The ongoing acceptance of AI and advanced data analytics has allowed surveillance camera technology to shift from being a tactical tool to a strategic business solution. Combining traditional surveillance technology with AI-based data-driven insights can streamline transportation systems, enhance traffic management, improve situational awareness, optimize resource allocation and streamline emergency response procedures. Read Now

  • The Progress of Biometrics

  • Next-Gen AI for Smart Cities

    The future of smart city technology is not being shaped in Silicon Valley — it is taking root in Dubuque, Iowa. With a population of about 60,000, this mid-sized city has become a live testbed for AI-driven traffic management thanks to a unique public-private collaboration led by Milestone Systems. Project Hafnia demonstrates how cities can transform urban mobility and safety through Responsible Technology—without costly infrastructure overhauls. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area.

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening.