The Aviation And Transportation Security Act

One of the biggest problems with the TSA is the concept of “security theater”. This concepts means that just since police officers and other people in uniform are around, the public is safe. Another part of this problem is that if a terrorist were to try and the attack the United States again, they would be able to study and plan around the TSA’s procedures and searches. Brazenly, the Agency operates in plain view of everyone. When studying the TSA’s thoroughness, the experts found that they missed up to 95% of prohibited items at times, and have never thwarted a terrorist plot through random security checks. The TSA regularly posts on Instagram, mostly pictures of contraband and weapons. Looting has been an issue at times as well, with agents confiscating items they either weren’t supposed to, or that they wanted for themselves. Recapping, the TSA only provides a feeling of safety, has never stopped a documented terrorist, and occasionally loots passengers. These are only a few of the issues that plague the

Shortly after 9/11 twelve years ago, the federal government created the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to protect air travel and prevent similar attacks. In 2012, the TSA had a budget of $8.1 billion, and while it claims to improve airport security, it fails to do so. Additionally, their checkpoints are privacy-invasive and cumbersome, negatively impacting the air travel industry. For these reasons, the agency should be abolished.

In this essay, I will attempt to argue that TSA serves as a mechanism for the government to frame the nature of the debate on privacy, in a way that is beneficial to them. To do this I will first argue that airport security and the TSA is objectively ineffective and merely creates the illusion of privacy. Despite not actually protecting us, the system of airplane security, conditions individuals in the general public to be willing to make sacrifices in privacy for a perceived “greater good” in community safety. This viewpoint of individuals sacrificing a little privacy for the wellbeing of society is the essentially the same “nothing to hide” argument that the government uses to justify mass surveillance and the violation of constitutional privacy rights. This airplane security and analogues government argument is flawed because it defines privacy two narrowly in scope and assumes that privacy couldn’t have social value. However, despite being flawed, the indoctrination by the TSA, and subsequent ideology has become a widely accepted belief. This is inherently

If you have ever traveled on an airplane before, you would be familiar with the Transportation Security Administration, or more commonly known as the TSA. Founded in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks initially under the Department of Transportation and later placed under the Department of Homeland Security all in the name of making air travel safer for Americans. They are most commonly known for making you take off your shoes, separate your liquids, and walk through body scanners. Keep in mind that those are only the least invasive things that you may be subjected to while passing under their watchful (or perhaps not-so watchful) gaze. Many Americans will gladly accept these invasions of privacy as a necessity on the path to safer travel for themselves and their fellow travelers through thwarting potential terrorists. But the harsh reality of it is that the TSA does not

The U.S. government took many steps to try to make the country safer. It tightened security at airports and in public buildings. A new cabinet-level department—the Department of Homeland Security was created. It works to protect the United States from any terrorist attacks (scholastic.com). The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) didn't exist before 9/11. The TSA was created to do three things: take responsibility for all modes of transportation; recruit, assess, hire, train and deploy security officers for 450 commercial airports from Guam to Alaska within 12 months; and provide 100 percent screening of all checked luggage for explosives. In the past, the TSA detected 50 million prohibited items, including 5,000 firearms on passengers attempting to board planes. Now, 50,000 TSA officers screen nearly two million air travelers each day

For Americans who travels on an everyday basis, many are greatful that Airport Security is enforced to protect the safety of the people. Overall in the past 15 years airports have appreciated these regulations even though it came about as a response to a misfortunate event. Homeland Security, the top dog over Airport Security, is aware that the system is constantly evolving. Newer threats are known to be present but TSA knows the issues that have happened and secures the world trust to protect the people. Everyone that travels today expects high level procedures to ensure safe travel. Due to this severe outcome to strictly enforce security in airports, there has not been another incident since September 11,

The Department of Homeland Security has authority to secure the country's boundaries and transport systems; they manage who and what enters our motherland and aim to avert the entry of extremists and the instruments of terrorism while guaranteeing the swift flow of genuine traffic. Many suspicious extremist sets and groups are under intense scrutiny by the Homeland Security agency.

As with any government organization the TSA has taken much criticism on its security practices.

A plane can no longer be boarded without everybody at least going through a body scan, a suitcase check, and the metal detector. In the article, an author explains that “...touchstones like putting laptops into plastic bins, a pat down, and a blaring reminder not to carry packages for strangers drive home the fact that the survival is at stake in the post-September 11th world.” Lives could be at risk so it is necessary to go through these procedures to make sure everybody on the plane will be safe. These invasive procedures have been accepted over the years. People have also accepted the fact that there are more than enough police officers and technology at public events. One of the authors state that “... physical security screeners see what’s in your bag and your pockets; aerial and digital surveillance sees

The agents of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) have become notorious for their insolence and ludicrous actions during bag checks and screenings. TSA agents have been known to cause many instances of harassment and other inconveniences to the average passenger. A TSA agent once admitted that the first question to ask to anyone in a wheelchair is if he is able to stand for a pat-down search. If someone is in a wheelchair, it is likely that he is unable to stand. Even when he is sitting, the TSA agent must ask him to move so that they can check under his bottom (“Confessions of a TSA agent: we’re all a bunch of airheads”, 2013). The TSA has caused inconveniences to passengers trying to board. Ashley Brant from Washington D.C. was told she may not be able to return home after a TSA agent told her that her District of Columbia ID was not valid because the TSA requires a state ID to board, and apparently, the U.S. district does not count as a state (Davis, 2014). There have been many instances such as those, resulting in the TSA becoming associated with absurd rules and incompetent employees. The TSA, established November 19, 2001, as a direct result of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, was designed to fortify the security of the nation’s transportation systems. The administration consists of approximately 50,000 officers, inspectors, air marshals, and managers who are supposed to provide adequate security for the nation’s modes of transportation and to

The National security responsibilities fall across many agencies and bureaus in the federal government, the agency that has the most influence is the department of homeland security. Homeland security has the tremendous responsibility in the protection of the American people, safeguarding this homeland, and upholding the values that all Americans share (dhs.gov, 2016). The main values of homeland is integrity, vigilance, and respect in honoring our partners which lead into the foundation of DHS. These concepts include security, resilience, and customs with exchange. When it comes to protecting the American people, the first priority is preventing terrorist’s attacks. Along with protection, safeguarding borders from illegal activity involves

On November 18, 2001, President George W. Bush signed the law the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA). This act established the Transportation Security Act (TSA), which merged the security efforts with the Department of Transportation (DOT) (Blalock, G., Kadiyali, V., & Simon, D. H.. (2007). The act also authorized a few very important changes in the security procedures, including the federalization of security screening for passengers and the requirement to screen all checked baggage (Blalock, G., Kadiyali, V., & Simon, D. H..

Most major airports have an entire police force monitoring all features of the facility. Background checks are required on all airport workers, from security-team members to baggage handlers. All airport workers have to have photo-ID cards with their name, position and access privileges clearly identified at all times. TSA wants the best to be able to pick out and retain all threats to passengers and all aircrafts. In order to do that they require the best training offered to these people setting out to protect

Similarly, the international importance of the international efforts in the homeland security participation cannot be neglected. The international partners who work hand in hand with the homeland security include multilateral organizations and the global businesses. In so doing, the homeland security is able to actively participate in the strengthening security of the networks of the global trade and travel that are core economic feature of the country. By working with the international organizations, aviation industry and the international governments, the homeland security has been very successful in the enhancement of the airports' security in the U.S. and across the various regions abroad. Hence, the collaboration with the international

Finally, the TSA is “hopelessly bureaucratic” according to Kip Hawle, a former TSA chief (Edwards, 2013). That bureaucracy often leads to extended retention of inefficient, ineffectual employees largely because the hiring and firing process is arduous. One study on TSA staff members suggests that employees may not take action because not adhering to the rules and regulations set forth comes with great penalties. Therefore, the employees are typically not free-thinking problem solvers, but people who want to complete their tasks without getting any attention. Unfortunately, this may lead to oversight if a terrorist threat does occur (De Gramatica, Massacci, Shim, Turhan, & Williams, 2017).