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Obama Calls on the TSA to Address Recent Security Vulnerabilities at O'Hare

Thursday, April 17, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Michael Ortiz, 202 228 5566

Reports suggest TSA uniforms and security information were not properly secured

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Barack Obama sent the following letter to Assistant Secretary Kip Hawley at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), calling on him to address recent reports of possible security vulnerabilities at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago. Earlier this week, reports surfaced suggesting that TSA uniforms and security information were not properly secured within the airport facilities. Because terrorists have attempted to impersonate law enforcement and other security officials in order to gather intelligence, conduct counter-surveillance, and even carry out attacks, it is critical these uniforms and this information are secured.

In the letter, Obama calls on TSA to provide the written guidelines, policies, and procedures in place governing the security of uniforms, portable equipment, and other supplies at all airports where TSA has screening operations; provide information on how internal affairs teams test for compliance with these policies; submit information on whether intelligence staff is concerned about theft of screener uniforms or other items as a terrorist tactic; and confirm whether TSA will perform an investigation of these recent events.

The text of the letter is below:

Dear Assistant Secretary Hawley:

I write to express my serious concerns about recent reports concerning possible shortcomings in how the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) secures screeners' uniforms at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago.

As you know, terrorists have attempted to impersonate law enforcement and other security officials in order to gather intelligence, conduct counter-surveillance, and even carry out attacks. Considering the extraordinary security threats our nation faces every day, reports suggesting that uniforms could possibly be accessed are wholly unacceptable.

Given your agency's public comments on these recent events at O'Hare, I request that you provide further information to highlight areas where improvements may be urgently needed:

  • Can you provide me with the written guidelines, policies, and procedures in place governing the security of uniforms, portable equipment (e.g., hand wands, training items, etc.), and other supplies at all airports where TSA has screening operations? Can you confirm that these rules apply equally to airports where screeners are employed by private contractors?

  • Can you provide information on how your internal affairs teams test for compliance with these policies? If this information is classified or otherwise restricted, my staff will arrange to receive a briefing with appropriate safeguards in place.

  • Can you provide information on whether your intelligence staff, or the intelligence staff of the Department of Homeland Security or any agency, is concerned about theft of screener uniforms or other items as a terrorist tactic? As with the item above, we can arrange to receive this information in a manner consistent with its sensitivity.

  • Can you confirm whether TSA will in fact perform an investigation of recent events at O'Hare, despite some press reports to the contrary? If you will not conduct an investigation, can you articulate why this decision was made? Similarly, if an investigation is to be conducted, can you describe its scope and purpose?

  • As a member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, I am committed to doing everything I can to help protect the homeland. My concerns about on-site security are not limited to screener uniforms, but extend to other threat items (e.g., fake guns, bomb parts, etc.), training materials, and other items that are not visible to the traveling public and which, if breached, could provide very useful information to those who wish to do us harm.

  • I know that the more than 40,000 TSA screeners work diligently to screen millions of passengers and bags every day across America, but their efforts will be compromised if seemingly mundane, but still critical security protocols are not followed. Any reassurances you can provide will be very helpful. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Barack Obama
United States Senator