DHS has Plans for Airport Security Lines, Urges Patience

DHS has Plans for Airport Security Lines, Urges Patience

  • By Sydny Shepard
  • May 16, 2016

The United States Department of Homeland Security has put a plan in motion to get airport security lines moving faster, but first they’ll need a little patience from the travelers.

DHS secretary Jeh Johnson described an “aggressive plan” to deal with the never-ending security lines at some of the country’s busiest airports during a press conference on May 13. DHS is actively hiring more than 700 new airport security screeners by June 15, maximizing security screeners’ overtime, giving federal security directors at major airports more flexibility and asking airlines and airports to help with non-security functions such as moving bins used at checkpoints.

In addition to the marketing campaigns that are focused on bringing in new hires, Johnson said he has written a letter to the 100 largest companies in the US, asking them to consider reimbursing employees for signing up for Pre-Check.

Johnson warned, however, that these initiatives would not make the lines shorter any time soon.

“There will be wait times this summer,” Johnson said during the press conference. “We encourage people to have the appropriate expectations when you arrive at airports.”

Johnson explained that part of the reason for the longer lines are changes to the screening process that are a result of damaging revelations from a 2015 DHS inspector general’s report that outlined the many banned items that were making it through the security check points. The new screening processes coupled with the downfall in TSA agents and the increase in travelers has created the longest lines ever seen at the busiest airports in the country.

Johnson told reporters at the press conference that patience from travelers is needed during this transition time as he emphasized that TSA “will not compromise aviation security” to make lines move faster.

The press conference came just in time for Twitter to erupt on Friday with hashtag #IHateTheWait. Travelers posted videos and pictures of their times waiting in line.


About the Author

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

Featured

  • Security Industry Association Announces the 2026 Security Megatrends

    The Security Industry Association (SIA) has identified and forecasted the 2026 Security Megatrends, which form the basis of SIA’s signature annual Security Megatrends report defining the top 10 factors influencing both near- and long-term change in the global security industry. Read Now

  • The Future of Access Control: Cloud-Based Solutions for Safer Workplaces

    Access controls have revolutionized the way we protect our people, assets and operations. Gone are the days of cumbersome keychains and the security liabilities they introduced, but it’s a mistake to think that their evolution has reached its peak. Read Now

  • A Look at AI

    Large language models (LLMs) have taken the world by storm. Within months of OpenAI launching its AI chatbot, ChatGPT, it amassed more than 100 million users, making it the fastest-growing consumer application in history. Read Now

  • First, Do No Harm: Responsibly Applying Artificial Intelligence

    It was 2022 when early LLMs (Large Language Models) brought the term “AI” into mainstream public consciousness and since then, we’ve seen security corporations and integrators attempt to develop their solutions and sales pitches around the biggest tech boom of the 21st century. However, not all “artificial intelligence” is equally suitable for security applications, and it’s essential for end users to remain vigilant in understanding how their solutions are utilizing AI. Read Now

  • Improve Incident Response With Intelligent Cloud Video Surveillance

    Video surveillance is a vital part of business security, helping institutions protect against everyday threats for increased employee, customer, and student safety. However, many outdated surveillance solutions lack the ability to offer immediate insights into critical incidents. This slows down investigations and limits how effectively teams can respond to situations, creating greater risks for the organization. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • 4K Video Decoder

    3xLOGIC’s VH-DECODER-4K is perfect for use in organizations of all sizes in diverse vertical sectors such as retail, leisure and hospitality, education and commercial premises.

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities

  • EasyGate SPT and SPD

    EasyGate SPT SPD

    Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles.