TSA // Current

Airport Security Not That Secure

Airport security in America is a sham—“security theater” designed to make travelers feel better and catch stupid... more

advertisehere
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Airport Screener Steals Over $200,000 in Gadgets

Transportation Security Administration baggage screener Pythias Brown is the reason you hate flying with expensive gear in your... more

iloveravi
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TSA calls Newark screener a one-person crime wave - NJ.com

As a screener at Newark Liberty International Airport, Pythias Brown was supposed to keep deadly objects off airplanes. But for... more

rodbegbie
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Chertoff Stole My Toothpaste

I was Armed to the Teeth!!

SushiBandit
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DHS Report Says Leave Laptops At Home

The federal agency said anyone who brings their computer or cell phone out of the country is risking privacy and data security... more

SushiBandit
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8-year-old on Terrorist Watchlist appears before Congress

This started when he was 5 years old. The TSA and the resulting watch-list are complete shams which have no credible basis for... more

SushiBandit
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Israeli Security makes American Dance at Airport

A performer with the famed American Alvin Ailey dance troupe on Tuesday said he was twice forced to perform steps for Israeli... more

SushiBandit
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Airlines may ask us to go on diet

With airlines cutting security and safety measures from onboard and inflight safety, I have to admit that perhaps we will be... more

Danielmklopp
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Laptop on Lock

Don't be surprised if airport security takes your iPod or laptop without explanation coming back from your next trip abroad.

Jael
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Missing laptop containing trove of personal information reappears at SFO

A laptop containing personal information on 33,000 travelers enrolled in a fast pass program at the San Francisco International... more

TravG73
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TSA on Track with Canine Explosive Detection Teams

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is on track to provide an additional 200 canine explosive detection teams a year... more

TravG73
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CNN reporter says bad things about the TSA, gets hassled every time he flies

CNN reporter Drew Griffin reported on the TSA's 1,000,000+ name watchlist of "potential terrorists," and now his... more

RyanBWylie
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TSA chief chides airlines for 'watch list' errors,

Airlines are to blame for many of the "false positives" that flag passengers for enhanced screening when their names are... more

Brockie
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Travelers complain about X-rated airport screenings

When travelers go to the airport, they know what kind of security to expect: luggage searches, metal detectors and shoe... more

maasanova
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Lockheed Martin wins $1.2 billion TSA contract

The Transportation Security Administration this month inked an eight-year, $1.2 billion deal with Lockheed Martin Corp. to provide TSA with comprehensive human resources support. The contract could expand into a $3 billion project if the Homeland Security Department decides to use it for human resources support at its headquarters operations.

The unprecedented deal is being viewed by many as a bellwether of things to come. Many expect a fast-paced outsourcing of HR services by federal agencies in the months and years ahead.

The outsourcing trend is fueled by a recognition that in-house HR methods are behind the times and unresponsive to growing needs. Agencies across government are seeing large-scale turnover of their staffs because of retirements, and that means accelerated recruiting, hiring and training. The move, proponents say, will enable agencies to employ smaller HR staffs that can focus on crafting strategic hiring plans and pay-for-performance systems. Meanwhile, contractors will handle the day-to-day operations of processing pay and benefits, recruiting and hiring, and managing personnel files, experts say.

“The role of HR has changed,” said Solly Thomas, associate partner for human capital management services at IBM, one of the contractors added to the government’s HR Line of Business program. “It’s gone from just processing, to looking at how they recruit and hire, and [considering things like] performance management practices.”

The White House is pressing agencies to consolidate their HR operations under a handful of service providers, both federal and private sector, under HR Line of Business. The program started in 2004, but officials overseeing it expect to win congressional support in coming weeks to greatly expand it.

The HR Line of Business program currently includes five federal HR service providers: the Defense, Health and Human Services and Treasury departments, the Agriculture Department’s National Finance Center, and the Interior Department’s National Business Center. Those agencies provide payroll processing services, process employee benefits and manage employee personnel files. Some also provide training, labor relations and strategic analysis. Actual hiring decisions remain with the customer agency, and agencies set their own goals and strategies.

Lockheed Martin said it’s getting increased interest from federal agencies. “Some agencies that have previously done everything in-house are starting to put feelers out, and see what benefits the private sector can offer,” Lockheed Martin spokeswoman Emily Simone said. She would not say which agencies she was referring to.

The reason for the increased interest, experts say, is that the private sector is way ahead of the government in offering innovative Web-based personnel systems and other cutting-edge services.

Kelley of Ameriben/IEC said HR work at intelligence and national security agencies should probably remain in-house to avoid security breaches. And agencies should specifically spell out what it expects from contractors to avoid confusion, sloppy work and wasted money, he said.

Because of the urgency with which it was created shortly after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, TSA has always relied extensively on contractors to run its HR operation. The Lockheed Martin contract consolidates work previously done by Accenture, CPS Human Resource Services and Avue Technologies. TSA spokesman Greg Soule said the deal will streamline operations and improve efficiency.

Homeland Security now relies on Northrop Grumman Corp. to provide many of its HR services at its headquarters and has no plans to drop the company, said DHS spokesman Larry Orluskie. But if DHS adds a new division or suddenly needs to ramp up hiring, it will turn to Lockheed Martin, he said. The Transportation Security Administration this month inked an eight-year, $1.2 billion deal with Lockheed Martin Corp. to... more