The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has received a lot of criticism for it's security practices lately and they're working on improving their image. The U.S. House of Representatives has a bit of advice for the TSA.
The TSA has in-depth practices when it comes to airport security. Anyone who has been to an airport recently has had to take off their shoes, take off their belts, empty their pockets, and put all of their belongings in security bins that are scanned. Then you step through a scanner yourself, some of which are pretty revealing. Some people get a pat down and some are randomly chosen to be checked a second time.
The process is extensive and everyone is deeply searched, from young children to sweet old grandmas, because in a post- 9/11 world, anyone can be seen as a threat, even if it seems absurd. However, some find the TSA's practices to be too invasive, which has brought on a negative image of the security group. The U.S. House of Representatives is looking to change this by offering advice.
Last week, the House Homeland Security Transportation Subcommittee met to give tips to the TSA on how to improve their image and their efficiency as the TSA receives thousands of complaints a month, mostly about their lack of courtesy and long wait time, the LA Times reports. Some tips that the committee suggested is to practice risk-based security and focus less on recognizable passengers, like celebrities or well-known political figures.
Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), chairman of the House Homeland Security Transportation Subcommittee, gave one example of avoiding these time-wasting security mistakes.
"There are certain people that are just so well-known that you've just got to use your common sense," Rogers said. "Because if you start patting them down, people are going to say, 'They're patting down Beyonce.' I mean, she's not going to blow a plane up."
According to the LA Times, TSA Administrator John Pistole said that the TSA has implemented some of these practices as they are committed to a security approach in which they focus on passengers that they have less information about. He said that the TSA is not using intrusive screening methods on certain customers. For instance, passengers 75 and older are not required to take off their shoes or outerwear while going through security.
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