Investigation ordered into TSA response to coronavirus after whistleblower complaint
#1
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 20,592
Investigation ordered into TSA response to coronavirus after whistleblower complaint
In The Washington Post:
Investigation ordered into TSA response to coronavirus after whistleblower complaint
Investigation ordered into TSA response to coronavirus after whistleblower complaint
An independent federal watchdog has ordered an investigation into the Transportation Security Administration’s response to the coronavirus, after a whistleblower alleged that the agency botched its initial handling of the pandemic when millions of people continued to fly each day, and that it is still doing too little to protect travelers and its own employees.
The whistleblower, Jay Brainard, the top TSA manager in Kansas, filed his complaint with the Office of Special Counsel, saying the agency’s failures amounted to “gross mismanagement. I and my counterparts have tried to convince them to do what’s necessary to protect the public,” Brainard said in an interview. “I don’t know why they haven’t done it.”
***
The TSA has issued new standard operating procedures for protecting against the virus that went into effect last week and has publicly announced changes to its screening procedures. But Brainard and his lawyers at the Government Accountability Project say they contain gaps — including no procedures for handling travelers who appear to be sick — leaving the public in danger.
***
In Brainard’s complaint, memos he sent members of Congress during the spring, and other documents shared with The Washington Post, he describes how the TSA struggled to respond to the coronavirus even as it rapidly spread through its own workforce. As early as March 23, agency employees in 11 states had fallen ill and workers in another 30 states were in quarantine, according to a map the agency produced. As the virus continues to spread, 695 TSA employees have fallen ill; five have died, as has a contractor, the agency says.
In its referral to DHS, the special counsel’s office said the department should investigate Brainard’s allegations that the TSA has not provided pandemic-related training, that the new procedures don’t require officers to use protective eyeware or use hand sanitizer between passengers, and that the agency has not installed plastic barriers to separate officers and passengers.
***
The whistleblower, Jay Brainard, the top TSA manager in Kansas, filed his complaint with the Office of Special Counsel, saying the agency’s failures amounted to “gross mismanagement. I and my counterparts have tried to convince them to do what’s necessary to protect the public,” Brainard said in an interview. “I don’t know why they haven’t done it.”
***
The TSA has issued new standard operating procedures for protecting against the virus that went into effect last week and has publicly announced changes to its screening procedures. But Brainard and his lawyers at the Government Accountability Project say they contain gaps — including no procedures for handling travelers who appear to be sick — leaving the public in danger.
***
In Brainard’s complaint, memos he sent members of Congress during the spring, and other documents shared with The Washington Post, he describes how the TSA struggled to respond to the coronavirus even as it rapidly spread through its own workforce. As early as March 23, agency employees in 11 states had fallen ill and workers in another 30 states were in quarantine, according to a map the agency produced. As the virus continues to spread, 695 TSA employees have fallen ill; five have died, as has a contractor, the agency says.
In its referral to DHS, the special counsel’s office said the department should investigate Brainard’s allegations that the TSA has not provided pandemic-related training, that the new procedures don’t require officers to use protective eyeware or use hand sanitizer between passengers, and that the agency has not installed plastic barriers to separate officers and passengers.
***
#2
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Baltimore, MD USA
Programs: Southwest Rapid Rewards. Tha... that's about it.
Posts: 4,331
Interesting.
The few times I've been to my local airport since the lockdown began in mid-March, I've seen TSOs at the checkpoints wearing masks in addition to their normal blue gloves, but not a single TSO outside the c/p was wearing a mask.
To be fair, something like thirty percent of the airport workers I saw, from airlines, custodial contractors, and the local police agency, were not wearing masks.
The few times I've been to my local airport since the lockdown began in mid-March, I've seen TSOs at the checkpoints wearing masks in addition to their normal blue gloves, but not a single TSO outside the c/p was wearing a mask.
To be fair, something like thirty percent of the airport workers I saw, from airlines, custodial contractors, and the local police agency, were not wearing masks.
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: DFW
Posts: 28,077
Several items in OP's link leave me with questions.
Is the release of a whistleblowers name generally made public? Even given this guy is a known complainer outing his name doesn't seem helpful to the issues that need to be addressed
If glove changes are required then why would a passenger have need to ask for a screener to change gloves?
Why not issue PPE stocks on hand? Why did TSA warehouse N95 masks in the first place? For what planned purpose, not met by an epidemic, were they intended to be used?
As typical, TSA has once again missed the boat.
The whistleblower, Jay Brainard, the top TSA manager in Kansas, filed his complaint with the Office of Special Counsel, saying the agency’s failures amounted to “gross mismanagement.”
Farbstein confirmed that use of eyewear remains optional but said officers are required to change gloves after pat-downs. Passengers can also request they change their gloves, she said.
On March 12, the TSA field director in New Hampshire sent an email asking senior officials managing the coronavirus outbreak whether he could issue N95 masks to his employees, which were understood at that time to offer protection against the virus, even though officials were not recommending the use of face coverings more generally.
He was told no.
He was told no.
At the same time, the TSA was hoarding more than 1 million N95 masks that were in short supply elsewhere in the federal government, said Chuck Kielkopf, an agency lawyer based in Ohio.
As typical, TSA has once again missed the boat.
#4
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 20,592
Article without a paywall:
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: AA Gold AAdvantage Elite, Rapids Reward
Posts: 38,310
Article without a paywall:
#6
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Greensboro
Programs: TSA
Posts: 2,424
Interesting.
The few times I've been to my local airport since the lockdown began in mid-March, I've seen TSOs at the checkpoints wearing masks in addition to their normal blue gloves, but not a single TSO outside the c/p was wearing a mask.
To be fair, something like thirty percent of the airport workers I saw, from airlines, custodial contractors, and the local police agency, were not wearing masks.
The few times I've been to my local airport since the lockdown began in mid-March, I've seen TSOs at the checkpoints wearing masks in addition to their normal blue gloves, but not a single TSO outside the c/p was wearing a mask.
To be fair, something like thirty percent of the airport workers I saw, from airlines, custodial contractors, and the local police agency, were not wearing masks.
#7
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Greensboro
Programs: TSA
Posts: 2,424
Several items in OP's link leave me with questions.
Is the release of a whistleblowers name generally made public? Even given this guy is a known complainer outing his name doesn't seem helpful to the issues that need to be addressed
If glove changes are required then why would a passenger have need to ask for a screener to change gloves?
Why not issue PPE stocks on hand? Why did TSA warehouse N95 masks in the first place? For what planned purpose, not met by an epidemic, were they intended to be used?
As typical, TSA has once again missed the boat.
Is the release of a whistleblowers name generally made public? Even given this guy is a known complainer outing his name doesn't seem helpful to the issues that need to be addressed
If glove changes are required then why would a passenger have need to ask for a screener to change gloves?
Why not issue PPE stocks on hand? Why did TSA warehouse N95 masks in the first place? For what planned purpose, not met by an epidemic, were they intended to be used?
As typical, TSA has once again missed the boat.
It appears that Mr Brainard makes certain his name is attached to anything he does.
Some passengers that do not actually see the TSO change gloves, will request a clean pair. Sometimes, passengers will watch a TSO change gloves, and still ask them to change them again.
Simplest answer is that not all airports had huge supplies of PPE (in terms of disposable PPEs like masks). I have no idea why they were warehoused, but one challenge is that it takes certain orders from on high to move those items for distribution. I am uncertain where those orders come from, but the airport staff only get these items when the correct "declaration" or order is given. We were lucky, we had some pretty good supplies for our PPEs, and we were able to take advantage of local sources before the serious lockdown changes came about. Some other airports were not as lucky. As is, 3 months of exchanging out disposable masks definitely puts a dent in the count. Quick calculation that is probably not completely accurate shows that masking 1/4 of the workforce with disposable masks for 90 days hits 3.375 million masks. There are other factors not included in that, but you can see how it adds up quickly.
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: DFW
Posts: 28,077
It appears that Mr Brainard makes certain his name is attached to anything he does.
Some passengers that do not actually see the TSO change gloves, will request a clean pair. Sometimes, passengers will watch a TSO change gloves, and still ask them to change them again.
Simplest answer is that not all airports had huge supplies of PPE (in terms of disposable PPEs like masks). I have no idea why they were warehoused, but one challenge is that it takes certain orders from on high to move those items for distribution. I am uncertain where those orders come from, but the airport staff only get these items when the correct "declaration" or order is given. We were lucky, we had some pretty good supplies for our PPEs, and we were able to take advantage of local sources before the serious lockdown changes came about. Some other airports were not as lucky. As is, 3 months of exchanging out disposable masks definitely puts a dent in the count. Quick calculation that is probably not completely accurate shows that masking 1/4 of the workforce with disposable masks for 90 days hits 3.375 million masks. There are other factors not included in that, but you can see how it adds up quickly.
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: AA Gold AAdvantage Elite, Rapids Reward
Posts: 38,310
No. They did not change the gloves. Every time they had change the gloves all the time. It's requirements. They don't want get sick at work. They must wear a masks. They breaking the rules. You must follow the rules. If you are sick at work, you have go straight home. Stay home! Go to see your doctor right away.
#10
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Baltimore, MD USA
Programs: Southwest Rapid Rewards. Tha... that's about it.
Posts: 4,331
Some airports have issued "shall wear" directives, some have not - same for the gloves. I have been wearing a mask any time I am out of the house, so I am a bit of an anomaly. The gloves have been change it after every physical interaction at bag check/pat-down for a while now. The current changes at TDC are more hands off than before. Here the airport has posted and published a facemask requirement for all airport employees - YMMV on the actual enforcement, but we have most of the workforce here that wears a mask unless they are eating or drinking. Some folks are just not inclined towards a face covering (I am speaking mainly about passengers at this point), and most places lack the ability to require it without some form of institutional control over the individual (like them being an employee). The passengers are not always going to comply, and the airports typically do not feel like they have a legal leg to force passengers to wear masks.
I have never seen any TSO at my home airport change gloves either before or after interacting with me. I'm sure they do occasionally, but it's just not done at my airport every time like you claim it's done at your airport.
Another issue I've read about here on FT is that some TSOs keep fresh gloves in their pockets so they won't have to walk the incredibly long distance to the nearest box of gloves when they need to change. Which is stupid, as it practically begs for cross-contamination of both substances that will trigger an ETD test, and biological contaminants like SARS-CoV-2.
#11
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Greensboro
Programs: TSA
Posts: 2,424
l'm pretty sure I was asking similar questions here on FT as was stated in the complaint. I certainly think TSA could have been more proactive in a rapidly changing environment. Not sure where TSA warehouses its gear but they did have a large warehouse in the DFW area. Country wide distribution would only take days so I don't think location factors in very highly. Overall, in my opinion, TSA senior managers appear to have failed in meeting the fast pace changes that were required to mitigate passenger and employee exposure to a serious disease.
As far as the PPE supply chain, I think that the vast majority of the Country (actually the world) were caught with their collective pants down with regard to the way that they have had to respond to a pandemic of this scale. Most organizations did not have the amount of supplies on hand that this event required, because we have not faced a pandemic of this scale since I can remember. I think the level of communicability of this particular strain is what made it so dangerous. I also think that the mitigation and shut down had a profound effect on slowing down the spread, so we are not seeing "terrifying" numbers comparatively speaking with major pandemics of the past. It is troubling to see the cases escalating again, but I think the general consensus of the public now seems to be shifting more towards achieving herd immunity (even though that has not been conclusively proven yet).
*I would not be surprised if we are not actually seeing the second run of this flu, as there were tons of cases between October 19 and February 20 that echo similar levels of infection and symptoms. I personally had that garbage in December and was out for a week, then carried the coughing for another month or so.
*This is entirely anecdotal
#12
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Greensboro
Programs: TSA
Posts: 2,424
I've been told by those in the know that my home airport feels that they have no authority to enforce mask a requirement on concession vendors, TSA, local PD, or anyone other than their own direct employees, hence they have not issued any airport-wide directives. Which is insane, since they do have authority to enforce all sorts of other requirements on tenants, including safety, security, physical plant restrictions (can't do this or that to your leased space), and procedural limitations (must dispose of trash and waste in certain ways, must bring supplies and equipment through certain routes, etc.)
I have never seen any TSO at my home airport change gloves either before or after interacting with me. I'm sure they do occasionally, but it's just not done at my airport every time like you claim it's done at your airport.
Another issue I've read about here on FT is that some TSOs keep fresh gloves in their pockets so they won't have to walk the incredibly long distance to the nearest box of gloves when they need to change. Which is stupid, as it practically begs for cross-contamination of both substances that will trigger an ETD test, and biological contaminants like SARS-CoV-2.
I have never seen any TSO at my home airport change gloves either before or after interacting with me. I'm sure they do occasionally, but it's just not done at my airport every time like you claim it's done at your airport.
Another issue I've read about here on FT is that some TSOs keep fresh gloves in their pockets so they won't have to walk the incredibly long distance to the nearest box of gloves when they need to change. Which is stupid, as it practically begs for cross-contamination of both substances that will trigger an ETD test, and biological contaminants like SARS-CoV-2.
I have been doing it for quite some time, long before the current procedures came into effect. I can not speak for everyone here, and I am certain we have had some situations where the gloves were not changed, however, I have seen no occurrences in person (although I have had to remind someone a time or two). Changing out after each person or bag check is simply a sound practice, and not just during adjusted pandemic times.
I will freely admit, that is something I did all the way back in 2007-8 when I started visiting these sites. I learned from the comments I found here, and have not carried gloves in my pockets since that time frame. I agree with you, that keeping gloves in the pockets is not what should be happening. In most checkpoints, gloves are not more than a few yards away most of the time.
#13
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Baltimore, MD USA
Programs: Southwest Rapid Rewards. Tha... that's about it.
Posts: 4,331
I think this is technically the correct thinking. As I understand it, TSA has no authority to enforce mask requirements - there may be a case made that TSA could deny entry to the sterile area without a mask, but that is not really enforcement, it is access control based upon public safety issues. All of the other requirements and limitations you mention are done via regulations, and (at least in theory) have a security related reasoning oriented on the mission. Although that is probably another discussion for another day!
I have been doing it for quite some time, long before the current procedures came into effect. I can not speak for everyone here, and I am certain we have had some situations where the gloves were not changed, however, I have seen no occurrences in person (although I have had to remind someone a time or two). Changing out after each person or bag check is simply a sound practice, and not just during adjusted pandemic times.
I will freely admit, that is something I did all the way back in 2007-8 when I started visiting these sites. I learned from the comments I found here, and have not carried gloves in my pockets since that time frame. I agree with you, that keeping gloves in the pockets is not what should be happening. In most checkpoints, gloves are not more than a few yards away most of the time.
I have been doing it for quite some time, long before the current procedures came into effect. I can not speak for everyone here, and I am certain we have had some situations where the gloves were not changed, however, I have seen no occurrences in person (although I have had to remind someone a time or two). Changing out after each person or bag check is simply a sound practice, and not just during adjusted pandemic times.
I will freely admit, that is something I did all the way back in 2007-8 when I started visiting these sites. I learned from the comments I found here, and have not carried gloves in my pockets since that time frame. I agree with you, that keeping gloves in the pockets is not what should be happening. In most checkpoints, gloves are not more than a few yards away most of the time.
While the checkpoint is certainly a major potential transmission vector for disease, it's not the only one. TSA break rooms, locker rooms, offices, and baggage screening rooms are all places where TSA employees congregate, and the public areas (both pre- and post-security) are places where TSA employees encounter other people, both airport workers and transients. They are, in short, indoor spaces, in which TSA employees should be required to mask up at all times.
Yet on my two visits to my local airport since this thing began, I saw not one TSO wearing a mask unless they were conducting screening operations inside a checkpoint. Not one. Every TSO I saw outside the checkpoint walked around the public spaces of the terminal with no PPE on.
I'm sure it's different at other airports and most TSOs are perfect little masked-up angels, but I cannot believe that my own airport is all that unique in its TSA contingent's habits. I really can't.
Perhaps you can tell us this: Is there actually an sort of TSA directive requiring employees to wear PPE anywhere but the checkpoint?
#14
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Greensboro
Programs: TSA
Posts: 2,424
The issue isn't whether TSA has any authority to require passengers to wear masks. It's whether TSA's incompetence will part barely long enough to require their own employees to wear masks when not working at the checkpoint.
While the checkpoint is certainly a major potential transmission vector for disease, it's not the only one. TSA break rooms, locker rooms, offices, and baggage screening rooms are all places where TSA employees congregate, and the public areas (both pre- and post-security) are places where TSA employees encounter other people, both airport workers and transients. They are, in short, indoor spaces, in which TSA employees should be required to mask up at all times.
Yet on my two visits to my local airport since this thing began, I saw not one TSO wearing a mask unless they were conducting screening operations inside a checkpoint. Not one. Every TSO I saw outside the checkpoint walked around the public spaces of the terminal with no PPE on.
I'm sure it's different at other airports and most TSOs are perfect little masked-up angels, but I cannot believe that my own airport is all that unique in its TSA contingent's habits. I really can't.
Perhaps you can tell us this: Is there actually an sort of TSA directive requiring employees to wear PPE anywhere but the checkpoint?
While the checkpoint is certainly a major potential transmission vector for disease, it's not the only one. TSA break rooms, locker rooms, offices, and baggage screening rooms are all places where TSA employees congregate, and the public areas (both pre- and post-security) are places where TSA employees encounter other people, both airport workers and transients. They are, in short, indoor spaces, in which TSA employees should be required to mask up at all times.
Yet on my two visits to my local airport since this thing began, I saw not one TSO wearing a mask unless they were conducting screening operations inside a checkpoint. Not one. Every TSO I saw outside the checkpoint walked around the public spaces of the terminal with no PPE on.
I'm sure it's different at other airports and most TSOs are perfect little masked-up angels, but I cannot believe that my own airport is all that unique in its TSA contingent's habits. I really can't.
Perhaps you can tell us this: Is there actually an sort of TSA directive requiring employees to wear PPE anywhere but the checkpoint?