In the uproar over the TSA agent being shot at LAX, many questions have been raised about whether or not TSA workers should be armed and about their role in airport security. Though the shooting of a TSA officer is tragic, it should not come as a surprise when these security workers are clad in military-like uniforms and stand as a symbol of intimidation to many. We need a new approach.
Imagine arriving at the TSA checkpoint to find smiling, helpful workers, dressed in a non-threatening way, with a mission to help us stay safer on our flights. That kind of image brings a positive reaction to me. Whereas, today’s phalanx of police-like officers engenders an atmosphere of intimidation.
Travelers should welcome an organization such as TSA that has been created to keep us safe, however the secret is in how the organization presents itself to the public whom they are protecting. Making travelers’ lives more difficult, adding intrusive searches and creating a cocoon of fear and intimidation are not the way to be accepted as being helpful by citizens.
The first reaction of TSA was to add another layer of employees — armed screeners who would guard the current screeners. Fortunately, it doesn’t seem that the knee-jerk political reaction is to create more TSA agents.
“We feel a larger and more consistent armed presence in screening areas would be a positive step in improving security for both [security officers] and the flying public,” said J. David Cox, president of the American Federation of Government Employees. “The development of a new class of TSA officers with law enforcement status would be a logical approach to accomplishing this goal.”
TSA agents also noted that they were unfairly demonized by the public. Now, we are getting to the crux of the problem.
TSA is a federal agency whose employees literally lay their hands on the public. They are the outward face of government intrusion into our personal space. And, for some reason, though they have no law enforcement authority, they are dressed up like storm troopers to intimidate rather than as security assistants to help passengers be safe.
In reality, TSA security screeners are not armed and lack arrest powers. They are not law enforcement officers of any type. They are public assistants responsible for making sure weapons, bombs or other dangerous materials don’t get on board passenger aircraft.
Every time TSA pooh-bahs decide to add another badge or tassel to the screeners’ uniforms they separate these screeners from the rest of the public. That separation with the occasional surly TSA worker breeds contempt and distrust rather than promoting a sense that TSA is there to help prevention of terrorist acts.
I had the opportunity to testify before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee about a year ago. In that testimony, I stated:
Dress TSA security screeners in non-threatening uniforms, perhaps, pastel polo shirts. They are security assistants, not law enforcement officers. Their job is to check identification and make sure the traveling public is safe, not to force citizens into submission. Get rid of the starched shirts, badges and bling.
We may not be able to eliminate the crazies from our society, but TSA can go a long way towards being seen as a positive organization rather than an intimidating and militaristic gauntlet that travelers are forced to contend with whenever traveling by air.
Charlie Leocha is the President of Travelers United. He has been working in Washington, DC, for the past 14 years with Congress, the Department of Transportation, and industry stakeholders on travel issues. He was the first consumer representative to the Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protections appointed by the Secretary of Transportation from 2012 through 2018.
