How Effective is TSA?
We found that TSA had aquired AIT (Advanced Imaging Technology) systems that were not used on a regular basis, and thus were not providing a security benefit. TSA has also not ensured that the utilization data the systems collect are accurate, and, as a result, they cannot use these data to enform future deployment decisions [GAO 2014].
In addition, TSA has an extremely high failure rate in 2015 to detecting undercover tests. The TSA's inspector general reported that 95% of the time, TSA officers failed to detect weapons, explosives and other prohibited items that undercover agents smuggled through various airport security checkpoints [Schaper 2021].
In addition, TSA has an extremely high failure rate in 2015 to detecting undercover tests. The TSA's inspector general reported that 95% of the time, TSA officers failed to detect weapons, explosives and other prohibited items that undercover agents smuggled through various airport security checkpoints [Schaper 2021].
How is TSA Regulated?
Regulation of these systems are not enforced and are more susceptible to bias. According to TSA, it does not ensure compliance with the TSA's operational directive because it is unclear which office should oversee the enforcing directive. This directive is important in defining screening standard operating procedures to train security officiers to better resolve anomalies identified by AIT systems [Frank 2019].