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

  • 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 However, many outdated surveillance solutions lack the ability to offer immediate insights into critical incidents.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

  • Security Today Announces 2025 CyberSecured Award Winners

    Security Today is pleased to announce the 2025 CyberSecured Awards winners. Sixteen companies are being recognized this year for their network products and other cybersecurity initiatives that secure our world today. Read Now

  • Empowering and Securing a Mobile Workforce

    What happens when technology lets you work anywhere – but exposes you to security threats everywhere? This is the reality of modern work. No longer tethered to desks, work happens everywhere – in the office, from home, on the road, and in countless locations in between. Read Now

  • TSA Introduces New $45 Fee Option for Travelers Without REAL ID Starting February 1

    The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced today that it will refer all passengers who do not present an acceptable form of ID and still want to fly an option to pay a $45 fee to use a modernized alternative identity verification system, TSA Confirm.ID, to establish identity at security checkpoints beginning on February 1, 2026. Read Now

  • The Evolution of IP Camera Intelligence

    As the 30th anniversary of the IP camera approaches in 2026, it is worth reflecting on how far we have come. The first network camera, launched in 1996, delivered one frame every 17 seconds—not impressive by today’s standards, but groundbreaking at the time. It did something that no analog system could: transmit video over a standard IP network. 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.

  • Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden Door Controls is pleased to announce that, in response to soaring customer demand, it has expanded its range of ValueWave™ no-touch switches to include a narrow (slimline) version with manual override. This override button is designed to provide additional assurance that the request to exit switch will open a door, even if the no-touch sensor fails to operate. This new slimline switch also features a heavy gauge stainless steel faceplate, a red/green illuminated light ring, and is IP65 rated, making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use as part of an automatic door or access control system. ValueWave™ no-touch switches are designed for easy installation and trouble-free service in high traffic applications. In addition to this narrow version, the CM-221 & CM-222 Series switches are available in a range of other models with single and double gang heavy-gauge stainless steel faceplates and include illuminated light rings.

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.