Aviation Security: Federal Air Marshal Service Is Addressing Challenges of Its Expanded Mission and Workforce, but Additional Actions Needed
GAO-04-242
Published: Nov 19, 2003. Publicly Released: Nov 24, 2003.
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Highlights
To help strengthen aviation security after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the Congress expanded the size and mission of the Federal Air Marshal Service (the Service) and located the Service within the newly created Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Between November 2001 and July 1, 2002, the Service grew from fewer than 50 air marshals to thousands, and its mission expanded to include the protection of domestic as well as international flights. In March 2003, the Service, with TSA, merged into the new Department of Homeland Security (DHS); and in November 2003, it was transferred from TSA and merged into DHS's Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). GAO looked at operational and management control issues that emerged during the rapid expansion of the Service, specifically addressing its (1) background check procedures and training; (2) management information, policies, and procedures; and (3) challenges likely to result from its mergers into DHS and ICE.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Directorate of Border and Transportation Security | The Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security should direct the Under Secretary for Border and Transportation Security to support the Service's continued commitment to developing into a high-performing organization, to improve management information and to implement key practices that contribute to successful mergers and organizational transformations, by developing an automated method to compare actual hours worked with scheduled hours so that the Service can monitor the effectiveness of its scheduling controls and support its planned long-term study of the effects of flying on air marshals and their aviation security mission. | FAMS' co-utilization of the time-clocks used by screeners, and which are the basis of TSA's ETA, as offered in FAM's 2006 update on this request, would compromise Federal Air Marshals' anonymity (e.g., observers could conclude that non-uniformed personnel using the clocks are FAMs). Alternative means of interfacing with the system via portable electronic device would require the development of a portal (which is unfunded and has undetermined technological feasibility). That being said, 04-242 required "an automated system to compare actual hours worked with scheduled hours." The recommendation did not require the non-specific automated system to be an electronic T&A. Furthermore, an... electronic T&A would not address the requirements of the GAO recommendation. Both FAMS' existing, manual T&A and the Excel-based, electronically submitted T&A to which FAMS expects to move by 10/1/08 include fields for FAMs to self-report both scheduled and actual hours. However, to meet administrative deadlines, T&As must commonly be submitted and processed in advance of a FAM's completing all flights for the pay period. For this reason, T&A (whether manual or electronic) is not an effective, useful, or complete method for comparing actual to scheduled hours or monitoring the effectiveness of scheduling controls; therefore electronic T&A is unlinked to GAO's first recommendation of 04-242. Rather, through the Service's other routine business processes, FAMS now verifies the effectiveness of its scheduling controls using an automated method, described below. Based on compensation and rest rules, FAMS currently schedules based upon the following maximum duty days (the term "duty day" includes the flying time, mission pre-brief, and mission de-brief): Domestic mission: Ten hours; International mission within North America: Twelve hours; International mission other than North America: Sixteen hours. DOT's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) provides - two to three months after a flight transpires - the independent, gold standard of "actual" flight statistics for the airline industry. The FAMS Mission Scheduling and Notification System currently has the automated capability to upload "actual" flight data (BTS data), calculate actual and scheduled working hours, and provide computer-generated reports for managers and analysts on demand. These reports provide detailed (by individual FAM or by office) and organization-wide statistics on FAM work schedules. For instance: - In the roster period (scheduling period) of 2/3/08 to 3/1/08, the average scheduled duration for a domestic duty day was 8 hours and 2 minutes, and the average "actual" duration was 8 hours and 16 minutes. In the same roster period, the average scheduled duration for all international duty days (including both North American and overseas missions) was 12 hours and 2 minutes, and the average "actual" duration was 12 hours and 11 minutes. - In the roster period of 10/14/07 to 11/10/07, the average scheduled duration for a domestic duty day was 8 hours and 4 minutes, and the average "actual" duration was 8 hours and 10 minutes. In the same roster period, the average scheduled duration for an international duty day was 12 hours and 21 minutes, and the average "actual" duration was 12 hours and 28 minutes. - In the roster period of 6/24/07 to 7/21/07, the average scheduled duration for a domestic duty day was 7 hours and 58 minutes, and the average "actual" duration was 8 hours and 20 minutes. In the same roster period, the average scheduled duration for an international duty day was 12 hours and 14 minutes, and the average "actual" duration was 12 hours and 30 minutes. The above findings show that FAMS has used automated scheduled vs. actual data to verify the effectiveness of the Service's scheduling controls, and therefore support the closing of the related 04-242 recommendation. (Data for additional roster periods can be provided upon request).
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| Directorate of Border and Transportation Security | The Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security should direct the Under Secretary for Border and Transportation Security to support the Service's continued commitment to developing into a high-performing organization, to improve management information and to implement key practices that contribute to successful mergers and organizational transformations, by seeking and monitoring employee attitudes by obtaining detailed, firsthand information on air marshals' reasons for separation, using such means as confidential, structured exit surveys, that will allow management to analyze and address issues that could affect retention and take appropriate follow-up actions, such as improving training, career development opportunities, and communication. | June 2007: FAMS developed and implemented an electronic Exit Survey in November 2005 that all separating employees are given the option of completing. The exit survey polls departing employees' opinions on their satisfaction with various aspects of employment with FAMS, including their reasons for leaving. A policy was issued, OMS 3210 Out Processing Policy, that describes the process and procedure for providing departing employees with the exit survey and an accompanying checklist was created for controlling offices to further ensure that employees are given the survey. The exit survey process is also included in TSA Management Directive No 1100.30-10. Employee Relations manages the...
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