Washington, D.C. -Today, Chairman Elijah E. Cummings convened a hearing examining Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security vulnerabilities and personnel diverted to the southern border entitled, “Identifying, Resolving, and Preventing Vulnerabilities in TSA's Security Operations."
TAKEAWAYS
* Urgent warnings from independent auditors about TSA security operations have languished for years. Both GAO and the IG have warned that recommendations they have made to address security vulnerabilities have not been fully implemented.
* Last week, TSA sent a response to the Committee with new information showing the extent of personnel diversions. According to TSA, they have already diverted nearly 200 employees from airports and headquarters to the southern border-including Transportation Security Officers, Supervisors, and Inspectors-as well as an additional 172 Federal Air Marshals.
* These employees are drawn from more than 50 airports across the country, ranging from small, regional airports to the largest, busiest airports in the nation.
* TSA has already approved an additional 294 employees to divert to the southern border, instead of focusing all available resources on implementing open recommendations.
* Congress must step in to ensure that TSA finally addresses unfulfilled recommendations and security vulnerabilities, which is why Chairman Cummings, Chairman Thompson and Oversight Committee Democrats introduced the Covert Testing and Risk Mitigation Improvement Act of 2019 to establish standards for the covert testing processes TSA uses to evaluate its aviation security operations and to require that TSA track and report progress toward mitigation of vulnerabilities in its security operations.
WITNESSES
The Honorable David P. Pekoske
Administrator, Transportation Security Administration
Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Deputy Secretary
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Charles M. Johnson, Jr.
Managing Director, Homeland Security and Justice Issues
Government Accountability Office
Don Bumgardner
Deputy Assistant Inspector General
Office of Inspector General
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
VIDEOS
Watch Chairman Cummings’ opening statement.
Watch Chairman Cummings’ question line.
Watch Rep. Holmes Norton’s question line.
Watch Rep. Connolly’s question line.
