WASHINGTON — (CNN) Major overhauls are in the works at airports across the country after TSA screeners failed nearly all of the undercover security tests administered recently.
A few weeks ago, undercover federal agents were able to sneak potential weapons through checkpoints at airports across the country, prompting an overhaul of the agency.
According to the Inspector General’s Office of the Department of Homeland Security, TSA agents at the airport failed 67 out of 70 tests administered.
In an interview with the New York Times, the head of the TSA says the agency will retrain thousands of screeners so they can better detect weapons and other illegal items.
The agency will also scale back a program that lets people not signed up for background checks use expedited security lines.
It will also be more aggressive at monitoring the oversight of airports regarding security badges.
The agency says it will focus less on getting passengers through checkpoints faster and will place more emphasis on proper screenings. With the new changes, the wait to get through checkpoints may be much longer.
“Longer waits? Well, I wish they could put something in place that would reduce the waits but allow people to go in but also be secure,” said Rob Sumter of Memphis, who travels through Atlanta often. “So if I had to trade, I guess I would take the longer waits.”
Breck Tweedie, a frequent traveler from Chicago said he doesn’t think retraining screeners will do much good.
“They have some good people working for the TSA, but a lot of the folks I see standing around, and they’re not necessarily concerned about the customer whatsoever,” Tweedie said. “It’s typical government situation in my eyes.”
The changes will take effect once TSA agents are retrained.
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