TSA criticized for Secure Flight program mismanagement

10.02.2006
The assistant secretary of the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) took it on the chin Thursday as members of a Senate committee and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) criticized the agency for the delay and mismanagement of its Secure Flight program.

Secure Flight is the government's second attempt at a preflight screening program for domestic airlines following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. An earlier system, called the Computer-Assisted Passenger Prescreening System, was created in 2003 then abandoned in 2004 because of privacy concerns.

For his part, Kip Hawley, the assistant secretary of the TSA, told the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation that he has asked the TSA's Information Technology Office to conduct an IT system security audit of Secure Flight to address weaknesses identified by the GAO. The audit would also ensure that the program fully addresses security and privacy concerns.

While he supported the TSA's efforts to secure all modes of transportation, Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) noted that the program has been in development for a number of years but for various reasons has not yet been implemented. Stevens said the committee wants answers about the viability of the program as well as a timetable for its launch.

"The committee also will examine the impediments that have caused the delay, including privacy concerns, Stevens said in a statement at the hearing.

"While the Secure Flight regulation is being developed, this is the time to ensure that Secure Flight's security, operational and privacy foundation is solid," Hawley told the committee. "We will move forward with the Secure Flight program as expeditiously as possible, but in view of our need to establish trust with all of our stakeholders on the security and privacy of our systems and data, my priority is to ensure that we do it right ? not just that we do it quickly."