Airport Security 

The Transportation Security Administration, or better known as TSA, deals with many threats daily and has programs, plans, and training routines to try and stop or mitigate these occurrences from happening. One big security threat TSA handles is insider threat. Insider threat is employees (TSA agents or aviation workers) abusing rights for wrong, advantageous reasons, ranging from small crimes to large-scaled, terrorist threats (GAO, 2020). A small example can be a TSA agent taking home confiscated weapons obtained at the TSA checkpoint, such as firearms or knives. Another example, and much more threatening, can even be stealing an airplane at any time sensitive flight information.          

               Aviation Security Policy Section 

TSA has many layers of security within their agency, 20 to be exact, and all play vital roles in maintaining and enforcing security. To increase the security and risk mitigation of insider threats, a necessary effort from all 20 levels needs to happen. A layer that can drastically help the mitigation can be Random Employee Screening as well as Law Enforcement Officers. Random screening occurs naturally throughout the aviation industry, but it may not be as often as you think. An article stated that some U.S. employees were allowed to skip security lines and even avoid background screening by doing so (Kieler, 2016). Facial recognition should absolutely be stopped, and law enforcement has been more involved in searching for potential insider threats. Random screens and checks have ramped up recently and mitigated some of the threats that currently occur within the TSA walls. 

 

T.S.A. Expands Duties Beyond Airport Security - The New York Times 

            TSA will never be able to fully eliminate insider threats; it’s like car accidents, they’ll never stop happening no matter the precautions and safety features. However, increasing the number of random searches/screenings will help mitigate the concern. Some employees may feel a breach of trust, but given the circumstances and risks of this threat, TSA agents should understand the reason. TSA can also implement more secret security cameras and law enforcement officials in the background of regular aviation work. Doing so will add the “unknown” factor to TSA security in that workers won’t know exactly who’s watching. Everyone knows they’re on camera and shouldn’t be doing illegal acts anyways, but an extra layer of this security can help. 

 

References

Kieler, A., & Kieler, A. (2016, September 27). TSA stepping up random security screenings for airport workers. Consumerist. Retrieved September 30, 2021

Office, U. S. G. A. (2020, September 24). Aviation security: TSA could strengthen its insider threat program by developing a strategic plan and performance goals. Aviation Security: TSA Could Strengthen Its Insider Threat Program by Developing a Strategic Plan and Performance Goals | U.S. GAO. Retrieved September 30, 2021


 

 


 

 


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