- February 29, 2012
- Category: Global Entry, TSA, TSA Pre✓
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Administrator John Pistole testified on February 28, 2012 for a House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Homeland Security hearing on the President’s budget request for TSA for Fiscal Year 2013.
In his testimony, Mr. Pistole made some interesting statements about the TSA TSA PreCheck Program. Mr. Pistole on February 28 confirmed that “We are expanding TSA PreCheck from two air carriers to four and to 32 additional airports for coverage at more than 50 security checkpoints across the Nation in calendar year 2012.” SOURCE.
I have previously written about the many benefits of GLOBAL ENTRY. With additional TSA Pre✓ privileges, this may be the best $100 a traveler ever spends!
TSA PreCheck provides passenger pre-screening for travelers who volunteer information about themselves prior to flying in order to expedite checkpoint screening. Eligible participants include certain frequent flyers as well as existing members of U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Trusted Traveler programs such as Global Entry, SENTRI, and NEXUS.
If TSA determines a passenger is eligible for expedited screening following the TSA Pre✓™ vetting process, information will be embedded in the barcode of the passenger’s boarding pass. TSA will read the barcode at the security checkpoint and then may refer the passenger to a TSA Pre✓™ lane, where they will undergo expedited screening, which could include no longer removing the following items: Shoes, 3-1-1 compliant bag from carry-on, Laptop from bag, Light outerwear/jacket, Belt. TSA will always incorporate random and unpredictable security measures throughout the airport and no individual will be guaranteed expedited screening. SOURCE.
The Pre Check program is the most blatantly racist and biased Government program in decades. For the past year TSA has insisted that everyone must be subjected to the same security procedures, whether a child, elderly grandmother or US Senator. Now they are allowing the privileged buy their way out of the screening process.
TSA is tacitly saying that the wealthy are more equal than others. Those chosen for the program will almost exclusively consist of well to do, mostly white, passengers. Minorities and low income travelers will bear the brunt of TSA practices while the privileged skirt them. This makes no sense from a security perspective since many terrorists have been frequent fliers or wealthy.
This state sponsored extortion will establish a mechanism to allow arbitrary profiling of passengers in the future, which could include Muslims, Latinos and African-Americans.
If someone can buy their way out of screening then this is no more than security theater and passenger harassment. Congress must demand that TSA adopt consistent, sensible and respectful procedures for everyone, not just the privileged.