Today, U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter commended the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for selecting Denver International Airport (DIA) as one of seven airports to conduct a pilot program to screen airport employees for prohibited items.
The TSA pilot program at DIA will feature enhanced employee screening, including random screening, behavior detection programs, employee security awareness training, deployment of portable screening equipment and use of biometric access control system already in place.
“The TSA must conduct this screening in a way that does not significantly impact the ability of these employees to do their jobs,” said Perlmutter. “However, we cannot afford to let even one employee slip through the cracks and threaten our security.”
The TSA established this pilot program following a 2007 Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms investigation that found baggage handlers at Orlando International Airport smuggled guns and drugs onto commercial airlines. The investigation found this was a coordinated effort by some employees to use their access to secure areas to transport and sell drugs and weapons while bypassing security screening.
Perlmutter stated, “I am shocked at these incidents from Orlando and the threat to our aviation security from these employees. We must close this security gap to protect our flying public. Denver International Airport ’s workers are world class, and the overwhelming majority of them are good, law abiding employees. The successful employee screening program at Miami International Airport shows that security can be achieved without negatively impacting airport operations.”
After six months of the pilot program, TSA will report to Congress about the effectiveness and impact of employee screening.
