TSA's Response to DHS Inspector General's Report on Air Cargo Security
News & Happenings
September 7, 2007
In June of 2006, the DHS Office of the Inspector General (OIG) began a review of TSA's oversight of cargo security on passenger-carrying aircraft. The audit attempted to determine the quality of TSA supervision of air carrier compliance with federal regulations. OIG examined procedures at five airports and 40 air cargo facilities while interviewing 31 aviation security inspectors.
The OIG report makes several recommendations relating to air cargo security and the state of air cargo security over 14 months ago. The report presents a snapshot looking backwards and does not report on the many changes that have been implemented over the past year - including some changes that go well beyond the recommendations in this report.
TSA recognizes the Inspector General's responsibility to conduct audits, investigations and inspections relating to Department programs and operations as a way to examine, evaluate and, where necessary, critique these operations and activities and put forth recommendations that might prove valuable to the Department in terms of operating in a more effective and efficient manner.
DHS Inspector General's Results in Brief and TSA's Progress
- OIG Conclusion: TSA does not provide sufficient resources for air carrier inspection coverage.
- TSA Progress: TSA currently has 300 Cargo Transportation Security Inspectors (TSIs) who dedicate their efforts exclusively to oversight of air cargo requirements. TSA plans to hire an additional 150 Cargo TSIs by the end of next year, and is acquiring additional vehicles and electronic equipment to support them.
- Approximately, 460 TSA certified canine teams spend about 25 percent of their time in the air cargo environment. 170 additional teams will be added in FY08 and will be entirely dedicated to working in air cargo. OIG has accepted TSA's actions to improve resources in this area, and closed the related recommendation.
- OIG Conclusion: TSA's inspection requirements may not accurately represent the extent to which air carriers comply with cargo screening requirements.
- TSA Progress: Since the time this investigation was performed, TSA has removed exemptions to screening to include the elimination of shrink wrap exemptions. In addition, TSA holds four weeks of core inspector training, Cargo Inspectors complete a two-week on-the-job training program. TSA will plan direct nighttime and weekend inspection activities (when most of the cargo is moving) to better determine compliance with requirements, and conducts monthly "cargo strike" surges at high volume cargo airports.
- OIG Conclusion: TSA faces numerous challenges in utilizing its compliance database - Performance and Results Information System (PARIS) - to monitor and report air carrier compliance.
- TSA Progress: The PARIS system was upgraded in April 2007 with enhanced reporting capabilities and supplements to the user manual. In addition, there are additional modifications proposed to facilitate better reporting and evaluate reporting risks and trends, as well as a new Internal Quality Assurance Manual to be used in reviewing and approving PARIS records.
