Trouble at TSA

Washington Post: The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is the federal agency that everyone loves to hate. It makes us arrive hours before our plane flights and makes us jump through more hoops than circus seals do to board them. These sometimes invasive procedures are meant to give us confidence that the federal government is safeguarding the nation’s skies. But something happened Sunday that shows why confidence in the TSA is in short supply.

In March, the TSA, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), issued a request for proposal for an agency screening partnership program. This called for an outdated and redacted version of an air passenger screening manual to be posted at the Federal Business Opportunities Web site. It wasn’t until Sunday — nine months later — that it was revealed that the hidden information was recoverable. None of it was classified. But there was a trove of potentially useful tidbits for al-Qaida and other terrorist groups.

Screening machines

The 93-page document revealed the kind of wire that doesn’t set off alarms on airport screening machines. It pointed out that only 20 percent of all checked bags are hand-searched for explosives. It showed sample identification cards for members of Congress and law enforcement officials. It highlighted the kinds of things that are optional for TSA screeners to inspect, such as wheelchairs and prosthetic devices. Five people have been put on administrative leave until the inspector general of DHS completes a review of what happened.

In the meantime, the TSA is working overtime to convince everyone that air travelers are in no danger.