Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
Transportation Security Administration (TSA)Biography
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was created in 2001 under the Aviation and Transportation Security Act, in the wake of 9/11.
TSA is responsible for ensuring the security of all modes of transportation, including cargo placed aboard airplanes and particularly focuses on passenger-carrying planes.
TSA employs a workforce of approximately 60,000 employees charged with protecting U.S. transportation systems and the traveling public. Of those, nearly 51,000 Transportation Security Officers (TSOs), Transportation Security Inspectors, and Behavior Detection Officers serve on the frontlines at more than 450 U.S. airports.
Under the TSA Secure Flight program, DHS conducts passenger watch list matching for 100 percent of covered U.S. aircraft operator and foreign air carrier flights flying into, out of, or within the U.S. This program identifies individuals who may pose a threat to aviation or national security and designates them for enhanced screening or, as appropriate, prohibits them from boarding an aircraft.
Although TSA does not conduct passenger screening abroad, it requires airports that serve as the last point of departure to the U.S. to meet stringent security standards. TSA assesses the security programs of all U.S. and foreign air carriers that serve last points of departure.
Notes
Editor’s Picks: Select articles related to the Transportation Security Administration. Links may lead to external sites.
- Reduced Size Explosive Detection Systems RFQ (Jul 2018)
- Advanced Airport Screening Systems for Explosives Detection (Jan 2017)
- Assessing TSA’s Implementation of the Screening Partnership Program (Nov 2015)
- New, Portable Radiological Detectors for Frontline Personnel (Nov 2015)
- New TSA Administrator Addresses Agency’s Failures, Low Morale (Jul 2015)
- Bill Would Require Regular Maintenance of Airport Screening Technology (Jun 2015)
- Is it Time to Overhaul the TSA? (Jun 2015)
- ASAC’s Final Report Makes Airport Access Control Recommendations (Apr 2015)
- TSA Just Handed a 15K Prize to Mystery Baggage Profilers (Apr 2015)
- New Orleans Airport Attack Could Have Been a Lot Worse (Mar 2015)
- IG: Convicted Domestic Terrorist Allowed to Use TSA PreCheck Lanes (Mar 2015)
- TSA, FBI, Airport & Airline Industries Discuss Insider Threats (Feb 2015)
- TSA Reform Bill Signed Into Law by Obama (Dec 2014)
- Aviation Security Threat Detection Technology (Nov 2014)
- Mass-Transit Security Practices and Guidelines (Nov 2014)