The Transportation Safety Administration, which was created in the wake of 9/11, in part, to handle the nation's airport security system, had decided in its infinite wisdom to shift screeners from JFK, Logan, and Newark-Liberty to other airports.
They claim that these airports are overstaffed.
I don't buy it. Not in the slightest.
It is more likely that staffing at these airports are not being handled appropriately so that sufficient numbers of screeners are available at peak time and that staffing is properly reduced as traffic wanes at the airports in question.
Each airport should be able to manage its own airport security within the guidelines set forth by the federal government without having to worry about shifting staff because the federal government says that the airport in question has too many people working.
Every set of eyes that checks the line means another set of eyes that could potentially uncover a bomb, contraband, or a terrorist on a watchlist. Reducing the staffing at major international airports whose flights cover the entire country and around the world is foolhardy.
The TSA created a federal screeners program because of what were apparent lapses and failures in private screening company operations. Also, the law creating the TSA provides for private screeners at certain airports, and there is a continuing concern by airport operators that the limited liability release written in the law is insufficient should the screeners fail to detect a terrorist, bomb, or other item used in a terrorist act.
Airports affected by this move should petition to allow private screeners to supplement and enhance the federal screeners.
However, the final decision on screeners will come down to dollars and cents, not sense. It is money that will ultimately drive this discussion.
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