Guess How Often the TSA Missed Fake Bombs in Undercover Security Test
From time to time the Department of Homeland Security sends undercover investigators to airports, armed with fake explosives, firearms, and other contraband, just to test the TSA. The results are not reassuring.
Turns out the TSA recently failed 67 of 70 tests, meaning the members of the Homeland Security Red Team were able to smuggle fake bombs and weapons onto planes 95 percent of the time. Via ABC News:
In one test an undercover agent was stopped after setting off an alarm at a magnetometer, but TSA screeners failed to detect a fake explosive device that was taped to his back during a follow-on pat down.
A ninety-five percent success rate! Seems a bit high? The Department of Homeland Security apparently agrees—ABC reports Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson was “apparently so frustrated by the findings he sought a detailed briefing on them last week at TSA headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, according to sources.”
A detailed briefing! Sounds serious. In the meantime, officials tell ABC “changes have been made” in the wake of the report. Sound familiar? It should.
More recently, the DHS inspector general’s office concluded a series of undercover tests targeting checked baggage screening at airports across the country.
That review found “vulnerabilities” throughout the system, attributing them to human error and technological failures, according to a three-paragraph summary of the review released in September.
In addition, the review determined that despite spending $540 million for checked baggage screening equipment and another $11 million for training since a previous review in 2009, the TSA failed to make any noticeable improvements in that time.
95 percent!
