TSA working group acknowledges that screening cuts would introduce a “small (non-zero) undesirable increase in risk” to the flying public and our loved ones on the ground

Washington (August 2, 2018) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today sent a letter to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) inquiring about recent reports that TSA is considering eliminating passenger security screening at over 150 airports across the nation, which could affect 10,000 passengers daily. Rather than undergoing TSA screening prior to departing from these 150 airports, passengers and their luggage would be screened once they arrive at larger airports for connecting flights.

“I am deeply troubled by this proposal and fear that the cuts to TSA screening under consideration could endanger the public,” writes Senator Markey in his letter to TSA Administrator David Pekoske. “Terrorists and those who wish to do our nation harm still consider aircraft desirable targets. With these types of aviation security threats still present, common sense demands that we should be strengthening our screening practices, not weakening – or eliminating – them. We vowed to never repeat the mistakes of the past, which is why I urge you to reconsider any proposal that could jeopardize our aviation security.”

A copy of the letter can be found HERE.

In October 2018, the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee passed the TSA Modernization Act, which included two of Senator Markey’s aviation security provisions.  The legislation included Senator Markey’s legislation banning knives on planes and codifying a pilot program to improve carry-on baggage screening technologies.

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