Department of Homeland Security

Office of Inspector General 

Evaluation of Newly Deployed and Enhanced 


Technology and Practices at the Passenger 


Screening Checkpoint 


(Unclassified Summary) 


OIG-10-75 March 2010 
 

Office of Inspector General 

U.S. Department of Homeland

March 31, 2010 

Preface 

The Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General was established by the 

Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-296) by amendment to the Inspector General 

Act of 1978. This is one of a series of audit, inspection, and special reports prepared as part of 

our oversight responsibilities to promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness within the 

department. 

This report addresses the strengths and weaknesses of the Transportation Security 

Administration’s newly deployed and enhanced screening technologies and associated 

procedures to assist Transportation Security Officers in preventing threat items from entering 

airport sterile areas and potentially onboard aircraft. It is based on interviews with 

Transportation Security Officers and Transportation Security Administration officials, direct 

observations, field testing, and a review of applicable documents. 

We judgmentally selected airports to be tested based on their utilization of all technologies being 

evaluated, passenger throughput, and geographic locations. At the time we selected the eight 

airports we reviewed, there were 16 locations that utilized all three technologies. 

The recommendations herein have been developed to the best knowledge available to our office, 

and have been discussed in draft with those responsible for implementation. This information is 

being provided in advance of the agency’s procurement of additional equipment for the 

passenger screening checkpoints. We trust this report will result in more effective, efficient, and 

economical operations. We express our appreciation to all of those who contributed to the 

preparation of this report. 

Security

Richard L. Skinner 


Inspector General 

_______________________________________________________________________________ 

OIG 

Department of Homeland Security 

Office of Inspector General 

Background 

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is responsible for 

overseeing aviation security and ensuring the safety of the air traveling 

public, including the screening of all passengers and property 

transported on passenger aircraft. As complex threats to aviation 

security evolve, TSA continues its mitigation efforts through the 

deployment of advanced technologies at the passenger screening 

checkpoint. A recent incident demonstrates the importance of 

continued development and enhancement of aviation security 

technologies. On December 25, 2009, a passenger on an international 

flight bound for the United States attempted to bring down the aircraft, 

with 278 passengers on board, by igniting an explosive device that was 

concealed in his clothing. Fortunately, as a result of quick action on 

the part of passengers and crew members, the fire was extinguished 

and tragedy was avoided. 

The use of new and innovative passenger screening technology is 

intended to prevent harmful and prohibited items from entering airport 

sterile areas and potentially onboard aircraft. To date, TSA has 

deployed a number of enhanced technologies and developed specific 

protocols at passenger screening checkpoints. 

We evaluated Advanced Imaging Technology, Advanced Technology 

X-ray equipment, and Liquid Container Screening, all used to screen 

passengers or their carry-on items. We also tested Transportation 

Security Officer performance in checking passengers’ travel 

documents. 

Results of Audit 

The number of tests conducted, the names of the airports tested, and 

the quantitative and qualitative results of our testing are classified. We 

have shared that information with the department, the Transportation 

Evaluation of Newly Deployed and Enhanced Technology and Practices at the Passenger Screening Checkpoint 

Page 1 
_______________________________________________________________________________ 

Security Administration (TSA), and appropriate congressional 

committees. 

We identified vulnerabilities in the screening process at the passenger 

screening checkpoint at the eight domestic airports where we 

conducted testing. As a result of our testing, we made eight 

recommendations. TSA concurred with seven recommendations and 

partially concurred with one. When fully implemented, these 

recommendations should strengthening the overall effectiveness of the 

screening process at the passenger screening checkpoint. 

We gave a copy of our draft report to TSA for review and comment. 

The unclassified portion of TSA’s response to our draft report is 

summarized below. 

TSA’s Response 

TSA appreciates the work done by the Office of Inspector General 

and will analyze the audit results as part of its ongoing efforts to 

assess and improve passenger checkpoint screening. The agency 

acknowledges that improvements can be made in the operation of 

new passenger screening technologies to prevent individuals with 

threat objects from entering airport sterile areas undetected. To this 

end, TSA will continue to take the necessary steps to increase the 

effectiveness of each technology. 

Evaluation of Newly Deployed and Enhanced Technology and Practices at the Passenger Screening Checkpoint 

Page 2 
Appendix A 

Major Contributors to this Report 

Patrick O’Malley, Director, Transportation Security 

Division 

Christine Haynes, Desk Officer 

Sharon Trodden, Audit Manager 

Edwin Soto, Auditor-in-Charge 

Lindsey Cabral, Auditor 

Tony Colache, Analyst 

Paul Exarchos, Analyst 

Jeanne Genao, Analyst 

Tessa May-Fraser, Analyst 

Nancy Pergolizzi, Independent Referencer 

Evaluation of Newly Deployed and Enhanced Technology and Practices at the Passenger Screening Checkpoint 

Page 3 
Appendix B 

Report Distribution 

Department of Homeland Security 

Secretary 

Deputy Secretary 

Chief of Staff for Policy 

Chief of Staff for Operations 

General Counsel 

Executive Secretariat 

Director, GAO/OIG Liaison Office 

Assistant Secretary for Office of Policy 

Assistant Secretary for Office of Public Affairs 

Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs 

Acting Assistant Secretary, Transportation Security Administration 

DHS OIG Liaison, TSA 

Office of Management and Budget 

Chief, Homeland Security Branch 

DHS OIG Budget Examiner 

Congress 

Congressional Oversight and Appropriations Committees, as appropriate 

Evaluation of Newly Deployed and Enhanced Technology and Practices at the Passenger Screening Checkpoint 

Page 4 
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND COPIES 

To obtain additional copies of this report, please call the Office of Inspector General (OIG) at (202) 254-4100, 

fax your request to (202) 254-4305, or visit the OIG web site at www.dhs.gov/oig. 

OIG HOTLINE 

To report alleged fraud, waste, abuse or mismanagement, or any other kind of criminal or noncriminal 

misconduct relative to department programs or operations: 

• Call our Hotline at 1-800-323-8603; 

• Fax the complaint directly to us at (202) 254-4292; 

• Email us at DHSOIGHOTLINE@dhs.gov; or 

• Write to us at: 

DHS Office of Inspector General/MAIL STOP 2600, 

Attention: Office of Investigations - Hotline, 

245 Murray Drive, SW, Building 410, 

Washington, DC 20528. 

The OIG seeks to protect the identity of each writer and caller.