DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY 

Office of Inspector General 

Transportation Security Administration’s 

Procedures For Law Enforcement

Officers Carrying Weapons 

On Board Commercial Aircraft 

 (Unclassified Summary) 

Office of Audits 

OIG-05-52 September 2005 
Office of Inspector General 

U.S. Department of Homeland Security 

Washington, DC 20528

Preface 

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) 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 by our office as part of our DHS oversight responsibilities to 

promote economy, effectiveness and efficiency within the department. 

This report represents an abbreviated version of our report containing sensitive security 

information that assesses the strengths and weaknesses of the Transportation Security 

Administration’s operating procedures for law enforcement officers to carry weapons on 

board commercial aircraft. It is based on interviews with employees and officials of 

relevant agencies and institutions, direct observations, and a review of applicable 

documents. 

The information contained in this report has been developed to the best knowledge 

available to us, and had been discussed in draft with appropriate management officials. It 

is our hope that 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. 

 

Richard L. Skinner 

Inspector General 
OIG Audit 

Report

Department of Homeland Security 

Office of Inspector General 

Page 1

Introduction 

This report presents the results of the Department of Homeland 

Security, Office of Inspector General’s review of the 

Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) procedures and 

controls to screen law enforcement officers (LEO) carrying 

handguns on board commercial aircraft. Congressman James L. 

Oberstar, Ranking Democratic Member, Committee on 

Transportation and Infrastructure requested the review. The 

Congressman asked us to determine whether current operating 

procedures ensure the safe and secure transport of weapons on 

commercial aircraft and to report on the number of federal, state 

and local government LEOs (other than federal air marshals) who 

have been authorized to carry weapons on commercial aircraft. 

We reviewed operating procedures and observed security practices 

at three airports. In addition, we interviewed various federal 

agencies including TSA, Federal Aviation Administration, Federal 

Air Marshal Service, and Department of Justice officials, as well as 

representatives from major airlines and airline industry 

associations. 

Executive Summary 

Procedures to verify the identity of LEOs flying armed need to be 

strengthened. TSA needs to increase assurances that its primary 

control can verify that an individual is who he/she claims to be. To 

resolve this issue, TSA started a pilot program in July 2004 to 

develop a uniform biometric identification system for LEOs. The 

pilot program is not complete and is scheduled to continue through 

November 2005. 
OIG Audit 

Report

Department of Homeland Security 

Office of Inspector General 

Page 2

 

The U.S. Department of Justice estimated there were over 801,000 

federal, state or local LEOs, however, the number authorized to fly 

armed is unknown. 1 Generally, all federal LEOs are authorized to 

fly armed if they have a mission need to do so. Whereas, only 

selected state and local LEOs are authorized to fly armed, and this 

generally includes those LEOs escorting prisoners or serving as 

bodyguards for state officials. 

1 U.S. Department of Justice reported that as of June 2002 there were 93,000 federal LEOs, and as of June 

2000, there were 708,022 state and local LEOs. 
Additional Information and Copies 

To obtain additional copies of this report, call the Office of Inspector General 

(OIG) at (202) 254-4100, fax your request to (202) 254-4285, or visit the OIG 

web site at www.dhs.gov.

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 the OIG Hotline at 1-800-323-8603; write to Department of 

Homeland Security, Washington, DC 20528, Attn: Office of Inspector 

General, Investigations Division – Hotline. The OIG seeks to protect the 

identity of each writer and caller.