Transportation Security Administration
| Transportation Security Administration | |
| Administrator: | Peter V. Neffenger |
| Year created: | 2001 |
| Official website: | Office website |
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is a United States executive agency formed in 2001 to "protect the Nation's transportation systems to ensure freedom of movement for people and commerce."[1] The TSA is a part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, though it was formed in the U.S. Department of Transportation and moved to Homeland Security in 2003.[2] On April 28, 2015, President Barack Obama nominated Vice Admiral Peter Neffenger to be the TSA Administrator.[3] Neffenger was confirmed by the Senate on June 22, 2015.[4]
History
Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the 107th Congress passed the Aviation and Transportation Security Act, which was signed into law by President George W. Bush on November 19, 2001. The agency took over security and training of security officers in commercial airports. They also screen all bags that go into the airport terminals.[2]
Structure
Mission
According to its official website, the TSA's mission statement is as follows:
| “ | Protect the Nation's transportation systems to ensure freedom of movement for people and commerce.[5] | ” |
| —TSA.gov[1] | ||
Leadership
On April 28, 2015, President Barack Obama nominated Vice Admiral Peter Neffenger to be the TSA Administrator.[3] Neffenger was confirmed by the Senate on June 22, 2015.[4]
Issues
Failed security test
On June 1, 2015, Homeland Security Director Jeh Johnson announced that Melvin Carraway, the acting administrator for the TSA, would be removed from the position and reassigned after TSA agents across the country failed to find fake explosives and weapons during a security test. According to The Hill, during the security test, "undercover agents made it through security in nearly all the tests — 67 of 70 — including one instance where a TSA screener failed to find a fake bomb, even after the undercover agent set off a magnetometer. The screener reportedly let the agent through with the fake bomb taped to his back, having missed it during a pat-down."[6][7]
Recent news
This section displays the most recent stories in a Google news search for the term Transportation + Security + Administration
- All stories may not be relevant to this page due to the nature of the search engine.
See also
External links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Transportation Security Administration, "Mission," accessed May 10, 2014
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Transportation Security Administration, "9/11 and TSA," accessed May 10, 2014
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 TSA.gov, "Statement by Secretary Jeh C. Johnson on the Nomination of Peter Neffenger to be TSA Administrator," accessed June 3, 2015
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Senate.gov, "On the Nomination (Confirmation Peter V. Neffenger, of Ohio, to be an Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security)," accessed September 4, 2015
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ DHS.gov, "Statement By Secretary Jeh C. Johnson On Inspector General Findings On The Transportation Security Administration," accessed June 3, 2015
- ↑ The Hill, "TSA’s competence in doubt," accessed June 3, 2015
