Transportation Security: Action Needed to Strengthen TSA's Security Threat Assessment Process

Abstract

TSA implements programs that, for example, ensure individuals with unescorted access to secure areas of the nations critical transportation infrastructure do not pose a security threat. Key to these programs are security threat assessments that screen individuals for links to terrorism, criminal history, and immigration status. TSAs Adjudication Center serves as the primary operational component in this process. GAO was asked to examine the performance and staffing strategy of the center. This report addresses the extent to which 1) TSA has measured performance for the center and what the data show; 2) TSA offices have coordinated to meet security threat assessment workload; and 3) TSA addressed potential risks posed by using a mix of government employees and contractors to adjudicate security threat assessments. GAO analyzed TSA data describing the centers performance since October 2010; reviewed documentation, including staffing plans; and interviewed TSA officials about data measurement and staffing practices.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 01, 2013
Accession Number
AD1178745

Entities

People

  • Carl Barden
  • David Bruno
  • Eric Hauswirth
  • Jason Berman
  • Jennifer A. Grover
  • Jennifer Dougherty
  • Melissa Bogar
  • Richard Hung
  • Stephen M. Lord
  • Steve Morris
  • Thomas Lombardi

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Counter IED
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Acquisition
  • Biometric Security
  • Congress
  • Contractors
  • Contracts
  • Department Of Homeland Security
  • Employment
  • Government Employees
  • Governments
  • Homeland Security
  • House Of Representatives
  • Inventory
  • Law
  • National Governments
  • National Security
  • Personnel Management
  • Procurement
  • Program Management
  • Security
  • Standards
  • Threat Evaluation
  • Transportation
  • Transportation Infrastructure
  • United States Government

Readers

  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Government and Public Administration Law.
  • Medical or Health Care Field.