TSA Admits It Didn't Train Workers

Aero News Net ^ | 28 August 2002 | Aero News Net

[SBeck]

TSA Admits It Didn't Train Workers
Charging for Work Not Performed is a Crime, Unless the TSA Does It

CNN has noted that, "The Transportation Security Administration has confirmed that dozens of screeners inspecting baggage at Norfolk International Airport in Virginia were not trained to do the job."

The original story was blown open this weekend by the San Francisco Chronicle, which noted that TSA-trained workers hired as long ago as the Spring had as little as 15 minutes' training in bomb recognition and related equipment training.

One of the TSA's crack troops told the paper, "They handed us a swab and told us to wipe the bags this way and put us to work. The whole thing took 10, 15 minutes tops."

The TSA told CNN that it wasn't important for the screeners to be trained, as there were always supervisors around; besides, the untrained screeners were part of a "pilot program," and the curriculum wasn't developed yet [although it was OK for the TSA to be deploying these untrained people, telling us we're safe, and charging the American taxpayer for their services! --ed].

Heather Rosenker, a fairly new TSA spokeswoman who doesn't return ANN's phone calls, told CNN that a couple airports do have trained screeners; and that some of the untrained screeners elsewhere have gotten some additional training.

Homeland Security czar Tom Ridge told CNN that this is not, "...the kind of story that inspires confidence with the traveling public." He did not mention, however, any measures he would recommend to rectify the fraudulent and unsafe actions the TSA seems to be engaged in.

Editor's note: if the FAA certified pilots the way the TSA certifies screeners, we'd all be dead by now.

[SBeck]

Ponderous, absolutely ponderous. Fire away.

[dwilli]

The important thing was to get these 60 thousand incompetents on the federal payroll by election time.
This and the Campaign Reform bill that McCain and
the rest of the democrats are so proud of are nothing
but junk legislation.

[Paleo Conservative]

Considering the quality of people hired for airport security, they would be lucky to find employees who are trainable.

[IncPen]

In terms of security, this isn't really a problem until it's reported in the news media.

In terms of a waste of taxpayer money... the death penalty ought to apply...

[Fixit]

The TSA denies that these people were only trained for 15 minutes (instead of the required 40 hours.)

A TSA spokesman defends the training program used, since it provided 90 minutes of training. Still 38.5 hours short of the required time, I note.

Nice to know that we are paying these dolts twice what they used to make...

[Indrid Cold]

While it is disturbing that citizens have to submit to searches by these untrained half-wits, I have to say that I'm generally glad the fedgov is as incompetent as it continually proves itself to be--otherwise we'd ALL be in prison.