Long security lines snaked into baggage claim areas and parking garages at some U.S. airports this weekend, a possible indicator of more widespread travel problems as the latest government shutdown drags on.
That kind of disruption, while not yet widespread, is not a concern that typically surfaces at San Francisco International Airport, the largest of nearly two dozen U.S. airports where screening checkpoints are staffed by private contractors under a little-used federal program that allows airports to outsource security screenings while maintaining TSA oversight.
Because contractors’ pay comes from a federal contract, it often continues even when the government shuts down.
The headline is possibly misleading. This story seems to largely discuss potential privatization of the security services that TSA provides, not eliminating the security theater that TSA is.
Ah yes, let’s use contractors. Anyone else remember when USIS was just faking background checks? I’ve been a Federal contractor, and while there are some great, hard working people doing government work as contractors, the companies behind those contractors are almost universally doing everything they can to skirt the line between “completing the contract” and “outright fraud”. They certainly have no interest in doing what is best for the organization, people or tax payers. It’s all money grubbing assholes looking to leech off the tax payer.
We need to realize that 90% of everything done in the wake of 9/11 were bad ideas. With DHS itself being a monumental fuck-up. We did need better inter-department communications. But, by creating one agency to rule them all, we put too much budget in one bucket and failed to let specialists in each area focus on their area of specialization.
Bring on the delays and public outrage. It’s just about the only thing that’ll force congress to do its job. It’s not like the other unfunded LE agencies will stop doing their thing or the Coast Guard will close down ports or stop rescuing people, despite also being kneecapped by the shutdown.
I’m still surprised that no suicide bomber has targeted the lines at the screening checkpoints in airports.
I don’t know what hidden security exists that could catch them before they get to that point, but it seems like it would be an irresistible target.
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Honestly given all the rampant anarchy the US is causing all over, now is probably the worst time to do this. I agree it’s theatre but I hope it deters at least some woodbe attackers. Reigning it back during a time of peace is understandable. During a time of war is just negligence.
