FAA's Preboard Passenger Screening Process

GAO discussed the effectiveness of the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Civil Aviation Security Program in screening passengers at U.S. airports to prevent them from boarding with concealed firearms, explosives, and other dangerous weapons. GAO found that: (1) although the security program is a significant deterrent and promotes safety, there are wide variations in the frequency with which it detects weapons; (2) the program has personnel-related problems, such as low wages and inadequate training; and (3) there are no standards for measuring the effectiveness of the screening process. GAO believes that established performance standards would enable FAA to more effectively monitor and enforce the security program.