Skip to main content

Aviation Security: Screener Training and Performance Measurement Strengthened, but More Work Remains

GAO-05-457 Published: May 02, 2005. Publicly Released: May 02, 2005.
Jump To:
Skip to Highlights

Highlights

The screening of airport passengers and their checked baggage is a critical component in securing our nation's commercial aviation system. Since May 2003, GAO has issued six products related to screener training and performance. This report updates the information presented in the prior products and incorporates results from GAO's survey of 155 Federal Security Directors--the ranking Transportation Security Administration (TSA) authority responsible for the leadership and coordination of TSA security activities at the nation's commercial airports. Specifically, this report addresses (1) actions TSA has taken to enhance training for passenger and checked baggage screeners and screening supervisors, (2) how TSA ensures that screeners complete required training, and (3) actions TSA has taken to measure and enhance screener performance in detecting threat objects.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Transportation Security Administration To help ensure that all screeners have timely and complete access to screener training available in the Online Learning Center and to help provide TSA management with reasonable assurance that all screeners are receiving required passenger and checked baggage screener training, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security should direct the Assistant Secretary, Transportation Security Administration, to develop a plan that prioritizes and schedules the deployment of high-speed Internet/intranet connectivity to all TSA's airport training facilities to help facilitate the delivery of screener training and the documentation of training completion.
Closed – Implemented
To ensure that all screeners have access to training available in the Online Learning Center and to provide TSA management with documentation of screener training, in June 2005 TSA completed a plan to facilitate connectivity to all TSA airport training facilities. The high-speed Internet/intranet connectivity (HI-SOC) program includes a plan and corresponding schedule for ensuring that training centers in airports receive high speed connectivity.
Transportation Security Administration To help ensure that all screeners have timely and complete access to screener training available in the Online Learning Center and to help provide TSA management with reasonable assurance that all screeners are receiving required passenger and checked baggage screener training, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security should direct the Assistant Secretary, Transportation Security Administration, to develop internal controls, such as specific directives, clearly defining responsibilities for monitoring and documenting the completion of required training, and clearly communicate these responsibilities throughout the agency.
Closed – Implemented
In March 2005 TSA executive leadership provided a memo to all TSA Assistant Administrators and Federal Security Directors, the ranking TSA authority responsible for the leadership and coordination of TSA security activities at the nation's commercial airports, that managers and supervisors will be held accountable for subordinate's completion of all mandatory training requirements. In July 2005, TSA's Acting Deputy Administrator stated that this accountability will be inserted into the performance plans for all TSA supervisors for fiscal year 2006. In addition, in July 2005 TSA revised a management directive that mandates the use of TSA's Online Learning Center for documenting training records. The directive was revised to strengthen and clarify record keeping requirements.

Full Report

GAO Contacts

Office of Public Affairs

Topics

Airport securityX-ray machinesAviation securityBaggage screeningChecked baggage screeningEmployee trainingHomeland securityInternal controlsPassenger screeningPassengersPerformance measuresSearch and seizureTraining utilizationTransportation securityPolicies and procedures