Gov't. Takes Over Airport Screening This Weekend

Federal officials say they expect a generally smooth transition over the next few days as the government takes over supervision of passenger security screening at the nation's airports. Passengers are unlikely to notice the change in oversight, according to U.S. Department of Transportation under secretary for security John Magaw.

In a briefing with reporters yesterday, Magaw said the Transportation Security Administration, which assumes responsibility on Sunday for the contracts with screening companies, also has appointed an ombudsman to deal with travelers' complaints about the screening process. Recently, some female passengers and flight crew members have complained about inappropriate pat-downs by male screeners.

TSA is negotiating with 60 airport screening companies to continue to process passengers at the nation's airports until November, when the Aviation and Transportation Security Act requires that all screening be done by a federal workforce. During the intervening months, TSA will be hiring and training screeners and gradually replacing contract screeners with the new federal workers. As of this weekend, 436 Federal Aviation Administration security personnel will be deployed at commercial service airports to supervise the contract screener workforce.

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