Guide Note

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration, often referred to as TSA, is a subsidiary agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. It was created by the Aviation and Transportation Security Act of 2001 in order to oversee the security of interstate transportation. The TSA's main focus is on air travel safety.

Fast Facts

Formed: November 19, 2001
Established by the Aviation and Transportation Security Act of 2001
Parent agency:U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Headquarters: Washington, D.C.
Employees: 43,000 (2007)
Administrator: Kip Hawley
Budget: $4.7 billion (2007)
Created in response to the 9-11 terrorist attacks
Oversees highways, railroads, buses, mass transit systems, ports, and airports

Ineffective Procedures

Despite rigorously implementing nationwide security procedures, the TSA has failed in numerous tests. Undercover agents would attempt to smuggle contraband such as guns or bombs past TSA check points. TSA agents failed to detect these items in numerous tests held at Newark Liberty International Airport in 2006, and again at Albany International Airport in 2007.

Categories

News | Groups and Organizations | U.S. Government

View Note History

U.S. Transportation Security Administration

The Mahalo Top 7

Official Site: U.S. Transportation Security Administration
Wikipedia: Transportation Security Administration
TSA.gov: Permitted and Prohibited Items
SourceWatch: TSA entry
TSA.gov: Aviation Check Point Wait Times
Evolution of Security: Official TSA Blog
Concierge.com: Inside Job: My life as an Airport Screener (2007)

TSA Recent News

Official Site: News and Happenings
Google News: TSA
The Washington Post: TSA Intensifies DC-Area Security for the Fourth (2007)
FoxNews.com: TSA Releases Tape After Woman Says Sippy Cup Caused Airport Raucus (2007)

TSA Background and Articles

Official Site: TSA History and TSA Administrator Kip Hawley
TSA.gov: TSA Turns Five – Facts and Figures
CNS News: Pilots, Lawmakers Call for Federalized Airport Security (2001)
CBS News: Feds In Charge At Airports (2002)

TSA Information for Travelers

TSA.gov: For Travelers and Air Travel
FAA.gov: Federal Aviation Administration

TSA Video and Media

PodTech.net: Former TSA CIO Talks Homeland Security (2007)
MSN Video: TSA steps up security (Time: 3:07)
YouTube: Olbermann covers the "Sippy-Cup Terrorist" (Time: 4:59)
YouTube and Google Video: TSA

TSA Criticism and Controversy

AP via Breitbart: Woman Says TSA Forced Piercings Removal (March 27, 2008)
Time: An Airport Screener's Complaint (2007)
The Seattle Times: Airport screeners fail to see most test bombs (2006)
Times Union: Fake bomb eludes airport test (2007)
MSNBC: TSA Computer Hard Drive Missing
BBC News: US airline security chief quits (2006)
House.gov: "TSA: Bullies at the Airport" by Ron Paul (2004)
ABC News: TSA Under Fire for Rising Theft by Baggage Screeners (2004)
USAToday.com: Editorial: Plan to snoop on fliers takes intrusion to new heights (2003)
Reason Foundation: False Security (2001)

TSA Blogs and Message Boards

Evolution of Security: Update: Bob Screens the Apple MacBook Air (March 20, 2008)
Boing Boing: How to smuggle liquids onto an airplane
Dvorak Uncensored: TSA humiliates woman over child's water
Homeland Stupidity: Why Everybody Hates the TSA
Perilocity: TSA Transparency?
Google Blog Search: TSA

Related Searches

FAA | September 11th | U.S. Department of Homeland Security | War on Terror

This page was created by Eric H., a Part Time Guide in the Mahalo Greenhouse (see the original), and curated by Lon.
If you'd like to help us create the best spam free search results on the Internet, apply to be a Part Time Guide!