If you thought the TSA was getting worse, you aren't wrong. According to a government watchdog, misdonduct among the Transportation Security Administration rose 26 percent over the last three years.
According to the Government Accountability Office, the number of misconduct cases rose from 2,691 in 2010 to 3,408 in 2012. Almost one-third or 32 percent of the cases involved attendance. Another 20 percent involved officers that violated security standards by letting travelers or luggage to avoid security screening, USA Today reports.
In almost half of the cases, or 47 percent, agents received letters of reprimand for their unacceptable behavior. Another 31 percent were suspended and 17 percent resulted in the worker leaving the TSA.
"While TSA has taken steps to help manage the investigations and adjudication process, such as providing training to TSA staff at airports, additional procedures could help TSA better monitor the investigations and adjudications process," said a report from Stephen Lord, director of homeland security issues for GAO, according to USA Today.
Some of the cases are publicized, such as one in which an Orlando airport TSA officer pleaded guilty to stealing 80 laptops and other electronics valued at $80,000 from passenger luggage in 2011.
Several groups of TSA officers have been fired in 2012 after they were discovered sleeping on the job at Newark airport, cheating on tests at Philadelphia airport and failing to perform random screenings at Fort Myers.
The TSA says that they are working on improving by taking GAO recommendations into consideration and making sure that agents are following the rules.
"TSA holds its employees to the highest ethical standards and expects all TSA employees to conduct themselves with integrity and professionalism," the TSA said in a statement according to USA Today. "There is zero tolerance for misconduct in the workplace and TSA takes appropriate action when substantiated, including anything from a referral to law enforcement or termination of employment."
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
