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The agency was created in response to the September 11, 2001 Attacks on the World Trade Center and The Pentagon . The organization was charged, in the midst of much confusion over appropriate safety procedures, with developing policies to ensure the safety of U.S. air traffic and other forms of Transport ation. Airport Security and the prevention of Aircraft Hijacking is an integral part of the TSA mission. Before December 1 , 2003 , the TSA oversaw Federal Air Marshal Service , but at that date the program was officially transferred to the U.S. Bureau Of Immigration And Customs Enforcement . However, as of fiscal year 2006 , the Federal Air Marshal Program was reassigned to the TSA. MISSION AND VISION TSA's mission and vision, according to its official U.S. Government web site: Mission: ''The Transportation Security Administration protects the Nation's transportation systems to ensure freedom of movement for people and commerce.'' Vision: ''The Transportation Security Administration will continuously set the standard for excellence in transportation security through its people, processes, and technologies.'' Leadership
Assistant Administrator for:
DUTIES AND PERSONNEL In addition to its other duties, the TSA established an official list of ''Permitted and Prohibited Items'' for carry-on and stowed luggage. Among other things, this re-allowed such items as Knitting Needle s and Crochet Needle s, that were temporarily banned by some Airport s and Airline s after September 11, 2001. The TSA is also charged with the administration of the controversial Computer Assisted Passenger Prescreening System s intended to identify suspected or potential terrorists. The TSA does not however control the implementation of this program, this is a responsibility given to the airlines. The TSA employs over 46,000 personnel used as security officers. TSA is best known for its role of providing passenger and baggage screening services at over 500 airports across the United States and possessions. Although government employees provide services in all of the fully federalized airports, there are five airports currently involved in the Screening Partnership Program which employ non-federal contractors to provide security services. These five airports and their respective security contractors are:
Statistically significant differences in detection rates at federalized and non-federalized airports have not been established. Starting November 2004 , other airports have the option to apply to opt out of federalized screening as well. As of September 2005 Sioux Falls Regional Airport is the only airport to apply and be approved for the SPP, and with the TSA is currently in the process of selecting one of the approved contractors to provide their screening. As of March , 2004 , a controversial plan called the Computer-Assisted Airline Passenger Screening System or CAPPS II , was being promoted by the TSA. The proposed program would force the booking agent or airline to record the traveller's name, address, phone number, date of birth and travel destination at the time of the purchase of the ticket. The data goes from there to the TSA, which forwards it to a contractor for verification. Government officials then would run computer programs that supposedly generate an accurate risk assessment, allowing security to focus their time on high-risk individuals. CAPPS II has come under attack from groups that believe it undermines both privacy and safety (because terrorists allegedly could use it to their advantage), and may be unconstitutional. TSA PROGRAMS
Arguably the most controversial program at TSA is the Secure Flight Program which proposes the keeping of passenger name records and terrorist screening databases to compile and enforce no-fly risks. Many citizens don't trust TSA to implement this program without crossing the line of invasion of Privacy for regular law-abiding citizens. PROBLEMS AT THE TSA The TSA has not been without problems, however. There have been countless reports about the abuse of power that the TSA has used. reports include, but are not limited to, being rude and offensive to passengers, extremely inefficient, degrading, and worst of all, not very thorough. Although the TSA has done a gread job of keeping scissors off of airplanes, there have been reports about actual weapons being snuck through security. The TSA has also confiscated many things that do not qualify as weapons, such as car keys. One of the main arguements against the TSA is its lack of uniformity. The TSA security guidelines change not just with each airport, but with each officer that is working, and by no means do they follow the guidelines put forth online. There have been so many problems that the government has thought about disolving the TSA in favor of private companys. TRIVIA TSA has been changed into the acronym "Thousands Standing Around." In 2005, 12.6 million prohibited items were confiscated. EXTERNAL LINKS |
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