By James M. Loy
NEW YORK — As much as anyone, the dedicated employees of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) want the security of traveling Americans honed to its sharpest possible edge. And we are the first to admit that there have been problems, an op-ed piece in USA Today reports.
But let’s keep perspective. Americans had a great reluctance to travel, particularly by air, in the weeks after that tragic Sept. 11. Now, polls show, much of their confidence in air-travel security has been restored. Everyone who has worked to improve security — and that includes TSA employees — should view that positive shift as strong testimony to the success of their efforts.
The bottom line is, only a year after terrorism was visited upon our nation, we have made tremendous progress. It has been less than 10 months since Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta ( news – web sites) began implementing the Aviation and Transportation Security Act, signed by President Bush ( news – web sites) on Nov. 19.
In late January, the TSA had only 13 permanent employees. Now, 145 new federal airport-security directors have been hired. The TSA has done background checks on more than a million airport workers. An unprecedented number of federal air marshals are on flights.
Yes, air marshals have a tough job, but contrary to reports in USA TODAY, there are fewer resignations than in many other law enforcement agencies, and morale is strong.
The Nov. 19 deadline for replacing private screeners with more than 30,000 federal screeners will be met. We expect to come close to meeting the Dec. 31 deadline for having more than 22,000 baggage screeners and necessary equipment in place.
It was never the TSA’s intention to put large explosive-detection machines in every airport. Lightweight explosive-trace detectors can do the job in many airports.
Already, we are having a palpable impact. Since assuming responsibility for airport security on Feb. 17, the TSA has confiscated nearly 2.4 million prohibited items, including 23,970 box cutters and 527 firearms.
We also are making air travel more hassle-free for the 5 million passengers, on average, who fly each day. Waiting times at security checkpoints are shrinking. Passengers no longer must be questioned about whether they have had control of their bags or were asked to carry something on a flight.
The TSA has not ignored security for shipping, highways or rail. Measures to make cargo more secure have been implemented. We are working on a security-identification program for transportation workers — private and public.
All that — and more — does not smack of federal decision-makers failing to follow up on their promises. And that is not the record of a workforce lacking a sense of urgency. Rather, it reflects our commitment to creating from scratch a complex new agency with the responsibility for protecting all modes of transportation.
James M. Loy, acting undersecretary of the Transportation Department for security, heads the Transportation Security Administration.