TSA's Small Proposal

From Town and Country:

"The TSA's New Proposal to Stop Security Screenings at Small Airports Has Experts Nervous"

The Transportation Security Administration currently shepherds passengers through screening checkpoints at 440 airports nationwide according to its website, but that number could see a drastic change in the near future, and not in the way you might assume. In a year which has seen the Trump administration push for more stringent screening measures for small consumer electronics like laptops and iPads, reports that the TSA is studying the possibility of eliminating security screening at more than 150 small and medium-sized airports nationwide come as a shock to many. Rather than holding screenings at individual airports, the proposal suggests implementing a system whereby passengers at airports that support flights of fewer than 60 passengers be allowed to complete that leg of their itinerary without going through official security. Instead, those passengers and their luggage would be screened upon arrival at major airports, prior to boarding connecting flights. This isn't the first time such a move has been considered. According to two senior TSA officials who spoke to CNN, the idea was proposed as far back as 2011. Though the policy change would likely only affect 0.5% of all air passengers flying in the US each day, it would nonetheless be a drastic change to the way Americans fly. The move is one of several expense-saving options being studied by the TSA during its annual budget review, according to a statement made by TSA spokesman Mike Bilello via Twitter. Though no decision has been made yet, internal documents acquired by CNN suggest that eliminating security screenings at smaller airports could save the agency as much as $115 million per year. Proponents point out that by eliminating security measures at regional airports, the agency would be able to concentrate training and funds at larger, high-volume airports, making security measures more advanced to make travel safer and more efficient. However, many voices in the security sector have fired back that curtailing screenings at smaller airports only increases the risk of such flights becoming targets for terrorist attacks. Many have pointed out that two of the perpetrators of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks flew from an airport in Portland, Maine before boarding the Boston flight that they hijacked, believing that security measures at the smaller Portland airport would be less intensive. Still others suggest that the proposal itself might simply be a bargaining chip on the part of the TSA to increase funding. “This is completely nuts,” Mary Schiavo, former inspector general of the U.S. Department of Transportation told The Washington Post. “Perhaps they want an outcry from the public to say ‘Oh, no, no, no, Congress, give them the additional $115 million that they say this would save.’” Nonetheless, Bilello assured USA Today that, "Any potential operational changes to better allocate limited taxpayer resources are simply part of predecisional discussions and deliberations and would not take place without a risk assessment to ensure the security of the aviation system.” 

^ To even consider this (not once, but several times) is just stupid. How can the TSA make you take out your small electronics, belts, shoes and food for separate screenings yet they want to stop screening small airplanes?  That makes absolutely no sense and the people who even consider it should not be working for the TSA anymore. I really hope this proposal does not come into effect if it does then I'm sure smaller planes will be used as weapons and it will be the TSA's fault (along with the terrorists.) ^

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/tsa-apos-proposal-stop-security-153100442.html