To answer the question from the columnist, look at it from these points:
In 2008, the TSA claimed they have
43,000 screeners. This year, it now claims to have
50,000 people working for them (credit: FTer Radiogirl).
In an age where technology is rapidly displacing people in the private sector, the TSA manages to bloat itself.
About technology. The TSA has been around for about eight and a half years. The TSA has yet to "deploy" (one of their favorite words) better x-ray machines. I'm not talking about better monitors, sun shades or floor mats, but actual, better x-ray machines.
The TSA is still using technology from the 1970s at the checkpoints. 2-D x-ray machines that the TSA even points out in their own SOP Manual that doesn't pick up all gauges of wires. It's no wonder they fail so many GAO tests.
To put this into perspective, here are some things the TSA has purchased before purchasing better x-ray machines:
- Uniform changes (three times)
- "Engage" classes
- 'Puffer' machines that were doomed from the start
- Lifetime achievement awards (in 2004, when the TSA has been around for TWO years)
- A gym ($350,000)
- Silk plants and artwork ($500,000)
- First-birthday party ($461,000)
(source for the last three)
- Should I bring up the $200+ million in SPOT?
I'm sure there are more, but that should answer the question.
The next time the TSA beats its chest about finding John Q. Moron who taped a brick of coke to his back or Jane Q. Moron who brought a plastic bag full of ganja, think about how many times the TSA has said they have passed the GAO's testing. It's the same number as number of terrorists the SPOT program has snuffed out.