ISSUED BY: GCIS Communications Command Center
SOURCE: HS Today
14February2011 8:40amEST
GCIS INTELLIGENCE UPDATE: The head of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has decided to prevent any more US airports from opting out of the use of federal screening officers in 
favor of private companies.
TSA Administrator John Pistole started a review of the initiative that allowed airports to hire private contractors as screeners last year and determined that it does more harm than good.
"As part of that review, I examined the contractor screening program and decided not to expand the program beyond the current 16 airports as I do not see any clear or substantial advantage to do so at this time. The airports that currently use contractor screening will continue to be regulated by TSA and required to meet our high security standards," Pistole said in a statement Friday.
The announcement prompted outrage from Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.), who had encouraged US airports to opt out of using federal screeners as a means to respond to public concerns over the implementation of enhanced security measures. Mica, the chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, has criticized TSA for acting as both the federal regulator and the party responsible for carrying out the regulations--a situation he calls rare.
"It's unimaginable that TSA would suspend the most successfully performing passenger screening program we've had over the last decade," Mica said in a statement Friday. "The agency should concentrate on cutting some of the more than 3,700 administrative personnel in Washington who concocted this decision, and reduce the army of TSA employees that has ballooned to more than 62,000. (read full report)
