US Airport Perimeters Security Strategy Not Updated for 7 Years

The US Transportation Security Authority has not updated its risk assessment strategy for analyzing dangers to airport perimeter security in seven years, a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report revealed.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Updating the Risk Assessment of Airport Security would better ensure that TSA bases its risk management decisions on current information and focuses its limited resources on the highest-priority risks to airport security, the GAO advised.

"Since 2009, TSA has taken various actions to oversee and facilitate airport security; however, it has not updated its national strategy for airport security to reflect changes in its Risk Assessment of Airport Security and other security-related actions," the report stated on Tuesday.

"Further, TSA has not comprehensively assessed the vulnerability… of TSA-regulated [commercial] airports system-wide through its joint vulnerability assessment process, which it conducts with the Federal Bureau of Investigation," the report added.

Incidents of aviation workers using access privileges to smuggle weapons and drugs into security-restricted areas and onto planes has heightened awareness about security at commercial airports, the GAO noted.