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Airport Worker Screening: TSA Could Further Strengthen Its Approach to Estimating Costs and Feasibility of Security Measures

GAO-21-273 Published: Feb 25, 2021. Publicly Released: Feb 25, 2021.
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Fast Facts

1.8 million U.S. airport workers have unescorted access to restricted areas and could pose "insider threats."

The Transportation Security Administration studied the cost and feasibility of enhanced worker screening that would be similar to passenger screening. TSA estimated it would cost at least $2.9 billion up front and at least $2.5 billion annually.

But TSA didn't fully follow best practices for a comprehensive cost estimate. Also, TSA's feasibility information was incomplete—e.g., it didn't consider airports' space constraints.

Our recommendations are to help ensure that future studies are high-quality and reliable for making decisions.

Two security workers with detection dogs in an airport terminal.

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Highlights

What GAO Found

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA), in its 2020 study estimating the cost of implementing enhanced airport worker screening measures, followed most of the best practices for a comprehensive cost estimate—one of four characteristics of a high-quality, reliable estimate, according to GAO's Cost Estimating and Assessment Guide. For example, while TSA documented its assumptions, it did not include a standard work breakdown structure or dictionary. Without these, TSA cannot ensure its estimates do not omit or double count any elements. TSA officials responsible for developing the estimate said they were unaware of GAO's cost estimating guide. Instead, they followed guidance from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on regulatory impact analysis, because enhanced worker screening is a conceptual rather than established program. However, OMB has separate guidance on cost estimates, which recommends following GAO's cost estimating guide in order to meet most cost estimating requirements. TSA officials said that our cost estimating guide could be helpful to consider when developing future cost estimates. Issuing guidance to ensure staff consider following best practices will better position TSA to develop future estimates that are comprehensive to inform policy decisions.

Examples of Airport Worker Screening and Supplemental Measures in the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) September 2020 Cost Estimate and Feasibility Assessment

Examples of Airport Worker Screening and Supplemental Measures in the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) September 2020 Cost Estimate and Feasibility Assessment

In its 2020 study, TSA also used incomplete information to assess the feasibility of implementing enhanced airport worker screening. First, TSA did not include local airport constraints—such as availability of space for screening operations—that it stated could influence feasibility. Second, TSA's assessment relied on the perspectives of and experiences at large airports, which may not be applicable to smaller airports. TSA officials said they believed the feasibility assessment was sufficient and there was no other formal agency guidance for how to conduct feasibility studies. However, officials said that such guidance could be useful for future assessments. Issuing guidance on assessing feasibility will help TSA ensure its future feasibility assessments are consistent and based upon complete information.

Why GAO Did This Study

Any of the 1.8 million airport workers with unescorted access to security-restricted areas of the nation's airports could pose an “insider threat.” The TSA Modernization Act (Act) required TSA to submit a study examining the cost and feasibility of enhanced worker screening measures. In its September 2020 study, TSA determined that implementing these measures is feasible and estimated implementation costs of $2.9-$3.6 billion, with ongoing annual costs of $2.5-$3.1 billion.

The Act also included a provision for GAO to review the study's quality and reliability. This report addresses the extent to which TSA, in its 2020 study, (1) followed best practices to comprehensively estimate the costs of implementing enhanced airport worker screening measures and (2) assessed the feasibility of implementing such measures.

GAO reviewed TSA's study and documents of the underlying methods, data, and assumptions; compared the study to best practices of a comprehensive cost estimate—a foundational characteristic of reliability; and interviewed officials from TSA, an industry advisory committee, and airports with worker screening programs.

Recommendations

GAO recommends that TSA (1) issue guidance that staff consider following best practices from GAO's cost estimating guide for future estimates, and (2) issue guidance on feasibility assessments. TSA agreed with our recommendations.

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status Sort descending
Transportation Security Administration The TSA Administrator should issue guidance ensuring that TSA staff consider following best practices in GAO's cost estimating guide when developing approaches for future cost estimates. (Recommendation 1)
Closed – Implemented
In February 2022, TSA published its Policy, Plans, and Engagement Cost Estimation Guide in response to our recommendation. TSA's guide advises staff to consider following best practices in GAO's cost estimating guide when developing cost estimating approaches in many situations. In two certain situations, TSA directed staff to primarily follow cost estimating guidance from the Office of Management and Budget instead of GAO's guide: (1) when developing cost estimates for a regulatory analysis, and (2) for internal TSA use or during the deliberative process where full information about the policy or program in not yet available. We stated in our report that applying best practices from our cost estimating guide does not preclude the use of other approaches, such as the OMB regulatory impact analysis guidance used by TSA. TSA can use our best practices in conjunction with other guidance to strengthen or supplement them. While TSA identified these two excepted situations, TSA's guide provides substantial detail to help staff operationalize GAO's best practices to ensure that estimates are high quality and reliable. Developing a guide that considers GAO's cost estimating guide in its approach for future cost estimates has helped ensure that TSA's estimates will be accurate, reliable and of high quality. We believe this recommendation has been implemented.
Transportation Security Administration The TSA Administrator should issue guidance to help ensure that the agency consistently incorporates complete information in its future feasibility assessments. (Recommendation 2)
Closed – Implemented
In February 2022, TSA published the Requirements and Capabilities Analysis Feasibility Study Guidebook, which provides specific guidance and best practices for developing, conducting, and completing feasibility assessments, including specific feasibility factors for TSA staff to consider. TSA developed this guide based on a review of feasibility assessment practices and methodologies across government, industry, and academia, in addition to its own expertise. The guidebook will help ensure that TSA staff include complete information in future feasibility assessments, and consistently base any associated conclusions on complete information. We believe this recommendation has been implemented.

Full Report

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Topics

Access controlAirport securityAirportsAviationAviation securityBest practicesCost estimatesHomeland securityRestricted areasTransportation securityWorkers