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Open Recommendations (22 total)

Aviation Security: Transportation Security Administration Could Further Improve Officer Engagement

GAO-24-106052
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2 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Transportation Security Administration The TSA Administrator should identify and implement actions, as appropriate, to address the root causes of TSO dissatisfaction with their opportunities for career development. (Recommendation 3)
Open
DHS concurred with this recommendation and said in its comment letter it would take steps to address it by December 2024. Specifically, TSA reported plans to identify and implement actions to address the root causes of TSO satisfaction it identified, as appropriate. These actions, if implemented as described, should address the intent of our recommendation. When we confirm what steps DHS has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Transportation Security Administration The TSA Administrator should conduct an analysis to identify the underlying root causes of TSO dissatisfaction with TSA support for their work-life balance. (Recommendation 4)
Open
DHS concurred with this recommendation and said in its comment letter it would take steps to address it by July 2024. Specifically, TSA reported plans to use airports' submitted Local Action Plans to identify root causes on a national level. While the plans could provide useful information for TSA's root cause analysis, it will not provide the complete information TSA needs to obtain quality results if TSA reimplements its Local Action Planning process and analysis carried out in recent years. To fully address our recommendations, TSA's root cause analysis would need to include root causes beyond the control of local airport leadership and better ensure that the local action planning process and subsequent analysis results in underlying root causes rather than problem statements or topics. When we confirm what steps DHS has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Aviation Security: Transportation Security Administration Could Further Improve Officer Engagement

GAO-24-106052
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7 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Transportation Security Administration The TSA Administrator should conduct an analysis to identify the underlying root causes of TSO dissatisfaction with communication from management. (Recommendation 8)
Open
DHS concurred with this recommendation and said in its comment letter it would take steps to address it by July 2024. Specifically, TSA reported plans to use airports' submitted Local Action Plans to identify root causes on a national level. While the plans could provide useful information for TSA's root cause analysis, it will not provide the complete information TSA needs to obtain quality results if TSA reimplements its Local Action Planning process and analysis carried out in recent years. To fully address our recommendations, TSA's root cause analysis would need to include root causes beyond the control of local airport leadership and better ensure that the local action planning process and subsequent analysis results in underlying root causes rather than problem statements or topics. When we confirm what steps DHS has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Transportation Security Administration The TSA Administrator should identify and implement actions, as appropriate, to address the underlying root causes of TSO dissatisfaction the agency has identified with how TSA manages and recognizes performance. (Recommendation 1)
Open
DHS concurred with this recommendation and said in its comment letter that it would take steps to address it by December 2024. Specifically, TSA reported plans to solicit and use feedback on employees' perceptions of the quality of their performance discussions. In addition, TSA planned to update and provide training for supervisors on performance management, though it was unclear how the training would address the root causes of TSO dissatisfaction. These planned steps could help TSA collect additional information on TSO dissatisfaction and enhance supervisory training. To fully address the recommendation, TSA will need to demonstrate that they have used the information collected, the training provided, or have taken other steps to address the root causes of TSO dissatisfaction. When we confirm what steps DHS has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Transportation Security Administration The TSA Administrator should track and monitor airport leadership progress implementing the three actions identified in each airport Local Action Plan to ensure the plans are implemented. (Recommendation 6)
Open
DHS concurred with this recommendation and said in its comment letter it would take steps to address it by July 2024. Specifically, TSA reported plans to track and monitor submission of airports' Local Action Plans and require airports to provide an update on efforts implemented midway through their 2-year action planning cycle. TSA did not specify how it will track and monitor the status of implementation at the end of the cycle. These actions could address the intent of our recommendation if implemented in a manner that provides visibility into airports' progress over time and helps TSA leadership better ensure planned actions are taken. When we confirm what steps DHS has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Transportation Security Administration The TSA Administrator should identify and implement actions, as appropriate, to address the root causes of TSO dissatisfaction with communication from management. (Recommendation 9)
Open
DHS concurred with this recommendation and said in its comment letter it would take steps to address it by December 2024. Specifically, TSA reported plans to identify and implement actions to address the root causes of TSO satisfaction it identified, as appropriate. These actions, if implemented as described, should address the intent of our recommendation. When we confirm what steps DHS has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Transportation Security Administration The TSA Administrator should conduct an analysis to identify the underlying root causes of TSO dissatisfaction with their opportunities for career development. (Recommendation 2)
Open
DHS concurred with this recommendation and said in its comment letter it would take steps to address it by July 2024. Specifically, TSA reported plans to use airports' submitted Local Action Plans to identify root causes on a national level. While the plans could provide useful information for TSA's root cause analysis, it will not provide the complete information TSA needs to obtain quality results if TSA reimplements its Local Action Planning process and analysis carried out in recent years. To fully address our recommendations, TSA's root cause analysis would need to include root causes beyond the control of local airport leadership and better ensure that the local action planning process and subsequent analysis results in underlying root causes rather than problem statements or topics. When we confirm what steps DHS has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Transportation Security Administration The TSA Administrator should track and monitor whether employees and supervisors discuss the results from Leadership for Engagement Surveys and use those results to inform the development and implementation of individual action plans. (Recommendation 7)
Open
DHS concurred with this recommendation and said in its comment letter it would take steps to address it by August 2024. Specifically, TSA reported plans for coordinators to document whether discussions of the leadership survey results have occurred, including any reasons why discussions did not occur. These actions, if implemented in a manner that provides TSA leadership with nationwide visibility into whether these steps are being taken as required, should address the intent of our recommendation. When we confirm what steps DHS has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Transportation Security Administration The TSA Administrator should identify and implement actions, as appropriate, to address the root causes of TSO dissatisfaction with TSA support for their work-life balance. (Recommendation 5)
Open
DHS concurred with this recommendation and said in its comment letter it would take steps to address it by December 2024. Specifically, TSA reported plans to identify and implement actions to address the root causes of TSO satisfaction it identified, as appropriate. These actions, if implemented as described, should address the intent of our recommendation. When we confirm what steps DHS has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Surface Transportation Threats: Better Communication with Stakeholders Needed about the Security Clearance Process

GAO-24-106382
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Transportation Security Administration The TSA Administrator, in coordination with DHS I&A, CISA, and DHS's Office of the Chief Security Officer, should implement a communications approach that conveys consistent and accurate information to TSA staff who interact with surface transportation stakeholders about how those stakeholders access the security clearance application process. At minimum, the approach should aim to ensure accurate information about which DHS entities initiate applications for surface transportation stakeholders, whether there is a maximum number of clearances that could be granted, and what type of employees are eligible. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
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