Heritage Foundation praises TSA for PreCheck expansion

{mosads}The Heritage Foundation lauded the TSA’s decision to open the program up to more passengers, saying the expansion would “allow the TSA to better focus its limited resources on passengers who are most likely to pose a threat to security.”

“As most travelers are aware, security screening at airports involves an extensive process of removing shoes, liquid containers, laptops, outerwear, and any belts or jewelry that may sound an alarm,” the foundation wrote on its website. “The PreCheck program expedites this process by allowing preapproved participants to move quickly through security, without the increased hassle.”

The PreCheck program is part of the TSA’s move to “risk-based” security techniques, which the agency says will make its efforts more efficient.

The Heritage Foundation said the agency should look for more risk-based techniques, as opposed its previous one-sized-fits-all approaches.

“DHS should also look to expand other cost-effective, risk-based measures, such as the Security Partnership Program, which lets airports opt out of using federal screeners and instead rely on private companies,” the foundation said. “The privatization of airport screeners increases efficiency, reduces the cost to taxpayers, and still maintains a high level of security.”

Heritage added that the Obama administration should also take other steps to make aviation security more secure.

“Additionally, the Administration and Congress should expand the Federal Flight Deck Officer program, which allows eligible flight crew members to carry firearms as a last line of defense,” the foundation wrote. “The low-cost program is an important aspect of aviation security and should not be ignored.

“As the U.S. continues to face internal and external threats to its critical infrastructure and mass transit lines, it is vital for the Administration to support and expand risk-based security practices within the TSA,” the Heritage Foundation continued.