Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said Monday the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will be taking additional steps to address airport-insider threats in the nation’s airports.
The added measures come after a 90-day Aviation Security Advisory Committee (ASAC) review that Johnson requested in January. Johnson asked the committee to review the nation’s security after a December 2014 incident in Atlanta regarding screening and vetting of airport-based employees. Following that incident, the TSA increased random and unpredictable screening of aviation workers at airport access points to help mitigate potential security vulnerabilities.
Under Johnson’s request, until TSA can establish a system for “real time recurrent” criminal history background checks for employees, fingerprint-based Criminal History Record Checks will be required every two years.
The TSA also will require employees traveling as passengers to be screened by TSA prior to travel. The administration will also reduce the number of access points in secured areas to help heighten security.
“Furthermore, the ASAC concluded that 100 percent physical employee screening would not completely eliminate potential risks, but would divert critical resources from other critical security functions to mitigate other risks,” Johnson said.
