These seemingly unrelated topics have all received attention from Congress and the Department of Homeland Security this past month. To better explain, here is FROSCH Monthly’s TSA Recap:

Budget Approved; New Workers Stay

The fear within the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in August and September was the potential that Congress would not approve a fiscal year budget for 2017, and the government shutdown that most certainly would have followed. Had this scenario played out, the nearly 1,400 new TSA agents hired for the busy summer travel season – the same agents who brought wait times down from hours to minutes — would all have been let go on October 1. Luckily, our friends in Congress not only approved a budget for TSA in 2017, but increased it by approximately 16%. Crisis averted!

A Balancing Act: What Should TSA Be Protecting the Most?

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Chief Jeh Johnson has reiterated TSA’s stance that airport and aviation security should remain the agency’s top focus. While we all know that TSA is our first line of defense at airports, the word “Transportation” is truly all-encompassing. TSA is also responsible for security at the nation’s rail hubs and maritime ports. While Secretary Johnson recognizes the need to protect our rail hubs and ports, he cites the fact that most rail stations and port authorities have their own police force as the reason to keep TSA focused on the skies. Some members of the Senate Commerce Committee think otherwise, and have introduced a bill that would require TSA to spend money on each mode of transportation based on the threat terrorism poses to each.

Breast Milk Bill Easily Passes House

The House of Representatives passed a bill in October that ensures passengers traveling with infants will not be improperly treated when passing through TSA checkpoints. Breast milk and baby formula have always been allowed in carry-on luggage, but many TSA agents were ill-equipped to recognize and handle it properly, leading many passengers to feel a sense of harassment, while many ounces of breast milk and expensive baby formula had been rendered unusable. The bill is meant to address inconsistent policies at checkpoints, agent education, and communication between TSA and the airlines with regard to rules and regulations regarding liquids.