Flyers May Expect Increased Security Presence in Summer

Legislative pushes in Congress could spur additional security at American transportation hubs.

In the wake of terrorist attacks in Europe, travelers may soon expect an increased security presence at airports and other transportation hubs. Both lawmakers and administrators took to Capitol Hill asking Congress to consider increasing America’s transportation security infrastructure, including boosting training budgets and increasing security presence outside of secure areas.

Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is once again calling upon Congress to include increased security funding as part of a Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill. In a press release, the legislator requested numerous additions to the proposed legislature, including strengthening security in airport pre-security zones and increasing the number of bomb-sniffing dogs with Transportation Security Administration Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response (VIPR) teams.

“Brussels was a harrowing reminder of the threat of terrorism at airports, and it must also serve as a wakeup call,” the senator said in a press release. “We need to tighten up security in vulnerable areas at our airports, across the country and New York State, so that the tragedy that struck Brussels doesn’t land on our own doorstep.”

Sen. Shumer’s proposal was joined by comments from TSA administrator Peter Neffenger before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. In his testimony, the administrator outlined the case for additional security at surface transportation hubs, including those that correlate with American air terminals. While the TSA is primarily responsible for providing airport security through security screening and VIPR teams, Neffenger stressed that safety must extend beyond secure zones.

“TSA strongly encourages the use of the ‘If You See Something, Say Something’ public awareness campaign … to make the traveling public the ‘eyes and ears’ of the transportation systems,” Neffenger said in his testimony. “Similarly, TSA’s Not On My Watch program is … intended to safeguard national transportation systems against terrorism and other threats.”

The calls for additional security come as the TSA works through a transitional period. After opening a new training facility in Georgia, the administration announced they would retain over 1,700 employees, while graduating 200 agents per week from the new training program.

[Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images]