GAO recommends passenger-screening technologies continue to meet airports’ detection requirements

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recommends the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) take steps to ensure screening technologies continue to meet requirements after they are installed at airports.

The TSA is responsible for security operations at approximately 440 TSA-regulated airports. Technology is used to screen passengers and luggage for prohibited items, but technologies can become less effective over time.

The GAO discovered the TSA does not ensure technologies continue to meet detection requirements after deployment.

The Department of Homeland Security tested a sample of deployed explosives-trace-detection and bottled-liquid scanner units in 2015 and 2016 and learned the units no longer met detection requirements.

The GAO recommended the TSA administrator develop and implement a process to ensure that screening technologies continue to meet detection requirements after deployment. Recommendations also include requiring TSA officials to document their assessments of risk and the rationale behind decisions to deploy screening technologies as well as requiring TSA officials to document critical decisions used to support the development and consideration of new screening technology explosives detection standards. The GAO also directs an update of TSA guidance for developing and approving screening technology explosives detection standards to reflect changes in the agency’s organizational structure, the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders, and designated procedures.

The GAO was required to review TSA deployment of screening technologies under the TSA Modernization Act.