Editing Transportation Security Administration (section)

===Other criticisms===

Other common criticisms of the agency have also included assertions that TSA employees have slept on the job,<ref>{{cite news |title=TSA fires screener caught sleeping in Seattle |url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/TRAVEL/01/06/airport.screener/ |date=January 6, 2003 |publisher=[[Cable News Network|CNN]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Report: Air Marshal Caught Sleeping on Flight |date=June 7, 2006 |url=http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/9335428/detail.html |publisher=TheDenverChannel.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070125180216/http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/9335428/detail.html |archive-date=January 25, 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/TRAVEL/03/11/sleeping.screener.ap/index.html|title=Security screener suspended for sleeping|date=March 11, 2003|work=[[CNN]]|access-date=November 27, 2010|location=Windsor Locks, Connecticut|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080618075026/http://www.cnn.com/2003/TRAVEL/03/11/sleeping.screener.ap/index.html|archive-date=June 18, 2008|agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=TSA Has Fired 112 Honolulu Employees Since 2002 |url=http://www.thehawaiichannel.com/news/6692360/detail.html |date=February 2, 2006 |publisher=TheHawaiiChannel.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060511215746/http://www.thehawaiichannel.com/news/6692360/detail.html |archive-date=May 11, 2006 }}</ref> bypassed security checks,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.local6.com/news/10958681/detail.html |title=TSA Workers Skipping Orlando Airport Security Causes Concern |publisher=Local6.com |date=February 7, 2007 |access-date=November 19, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080615004859/http://www.local6.com/news/10958681/detail.html |archive-date=June 15, 2008 }}</ref> and failed to use good judgment and common sense.<ref>{{cite web|title=TSA Officers Hassle Female Passenger with Toddler at Reagan National Airport over Sippy Cup? |work=Myth Busters |publisher=Transportation Security Administration |date=June 17, 2007 |url=http://www.tsa.dhs.gov/approach/mythbusters/dca_incident.shtm |access-date=August 2, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705093104/http://www.tsa.dhs.gov/approach/mythbusters/dca_incident.shtm |archive-date=July 5, 2008 }}<!--The date at the URL is June 19, so maybe the story was updated with relevant videos and documents--></ref><ref>{{cite video |people=[[Keith Olbermann]] (host), Andrew Thomas (guest), Monica Emmerson (seen in [[Closed-circuit television|CCTV]] clip/s and photos) |title=Olbermann covers *The sippy-cup terrorist* – "Countdown w/ Keith Olbermann" |medium=Television production |publisher=[[MSNBC]] via [[YouTube]] |date=June 18, 2007 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4Fu_qvm8dw |access-date=August 2, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Teen Says TSA Screener Opened Sterile Equipment, Put Life In Danger |publisher=[[WFTV]].com |location=Orlando, [[Florida|Fla.]] |date=March 6, 2008 |url=http://www.wftv.com/irresistible/15511359/detail.html |access-date=August 2, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080929145100/http://www.wftv.com/irresistible/15511359/detail.html |archive-date=September 29, 2008 }}</ref>

TSA agents are also accused and convicted of having mistreated passengers; having sexually harassed passengers;<ref>{{cite news |last=Reed |first=Keith |title=US eases patdown policy for air travelers |work=The Boston Globe |date=December 23, 2004 |url=https://www.boston.com/business/articles/2004/12/23/us_eases_patdown_policy_for_air_travelers |access-date=August 3, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Plan to snoop on fliers takes intrusion to new heights |work=Editorial/Opinion |publisher=[[USA Today]] |date=March 11, 2003 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2003-03-11-our-view1_x.htm |access-date=August 3, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |title=Phoenix airport to test X-ray screening |newspaper=USA Today |date=December 1, 2006 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2006-12-01-airport-screening_x.htm |access-date=August 3, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Ritchie |first=Jim |title=TSA officials being probed |work=Pittsburgh Tribune-Review |date=April 29, 2005 |url=http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_329096.html |access-date=October 8, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013074505/http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_329096.html |archive-date=October 13, 2008 }}</ref> having used invasive screening procedures, including touching the genitals, along with those of children;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20101111/us_nm/us_usa_security_patdowns_1 |title=Pilots and passengers rail at new airport patdowns |publisher=Yahoo! |access-date=November 19, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101114071050/http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20101111/us_nm/us_usa_security_patdowns_1 |archive-date=November 14, 2010 }}</ref> misusing body scanners to ogle female passengers;<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/2012/02/female-body-scans/|title=Female Passengers Say They Were Targeted for TSA Body Scanners|first=Kim|last=Zetter|magazine=Wired|date=February 14, 2012|access-date=August 23, 2020|via=www.wired.com}}</ref> having searched passengers or their belongings for items other than weapons or explosives;<ref>{{cite news
| title = Is Tougher Airport Screening Going Too Far?
| author = Scott McCartney
| url = https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970204556804574261940842372518
| newspaper = Wall Street Journal
| date = July 16, 2009
}}</ref> and having stolen from passengers.<ref name="wtae"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Jamieson |first=Bob |author-link=Bob Jamieson |title=TSA Under Fire for Rising Theft by Baggage Screeners |publisher=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |date=November 19, 2004 |url=https://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=266573 |access-date=August 2, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=3 ex-TSA workers plead guilty to theft |work=[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]] |date=September 24, 2005 |url=http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/3-ex-TSA-workers-plead-guilty-to-theft-1183643.php |access-date=August 2, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=TSA Baggage Screeners Exposed |work=[[CBS Evening News]] |date=September 13, 2004 |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tsa-baggage-screeners-exposed/ |access-date=August 2, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Goo |first=Sara Kehaulani |title=TSA Under Pressure To Stop Baggage Theft |pages=A01 |newspaper=Washington Post |date=June 29, 2003 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A45823-2003Jun28?language=html |access-date=August 2, 2008 }} (Registration required). Full text [http://www.msasecurityservices.com/airportnews.html#TSA_Under_Pressure_To_Stop_Baggage_Theft here.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080809233445/http://www.msasecurityservices.com/airportnews.html#TSA_Under_Pressure_To_Stop_Baggage_Theft |date=August 9, 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=TMJ4 staff |date=October 14, 2006 |title=TSA Screener Arrested |url=http://www.todaystmj4.com/_content/news/topstories/story_4773.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061104200942/http://www.todaystmj4.com/_content/news/topstories/story_4773.asp |archive-date=November 4, 2006 |work=[[WTMJ-TV]] |location=Milwaukee}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=10News Exclusive: Are TSA Employees Stealing? |work=10News |publisher=[[KGTV]] |location=San Diego, California |date=February 7, 2007 |url=http://www.10news.com/news/10958212/detail.html |access-date=August 2, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Elliott |first=Christopher |title=Tips to ensure the TSA doesn't swipe your stuff |publisher=[[NBC News]] |date=April 21, 2008 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/24187702 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130305111251/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/24187702 |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 5, 2013 |access-date=August 2, 2008}}<!--Sometimes does not open in Mozilla Firefox 2.0, so IE should be handy.--></ref>
The TSA fired 28 agents and suspended 15 others after an investigation determined they failed to scan checked baggage for explosives.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.kitv.com/Some-TSA-HNL-Employees-Escape-Firing-In-Baggage-Scandal/5341048|title=Some TSA HNL Employees Escape Firing In Baggage Scanda|last=Kerr|first=Keoki|date=September 16, 2011|publisher=KITV Honolulu|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909041416/http://www.kitv.com/Some-TSA-HNL-Employees-Escape-Firing-In-Baggage-Scandal/5341048|archive-date=September 9, 2015}}</ref>

The TSA was also accused of having spent lavishly on events unrelated to airport security,<ref>{{cite news |last=Miller |first=Leslie |title=Lavish party spurs criticism of agency |work=[[Deseret News]] |date=October 13, 2004 |url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/595098094/Lavish-party-spurs-criticism-of-agency.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101031080425/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/595098094/Lavish-party-spurs-criticism-of-agency.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 31, 2010 |access-date=August 4, 2008}}</ref> having wasted money in hiring,<ref name="Traveler0307">{{cite news |last=Peterson |first=Barbara S. |title=Inside Job: My Life as an Airport Screener |work=[[Condé Nast Traveler]] |date=March 2007 |url=http://www.concierge.com/cntraveler/articles/10624?pageNumber=3 |access-date=August 4, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080620083812/http://www.concierge.com/cntraveler/articles/10624?pageNumber=3 |archive-date=June 20, 2008 }}</ref> and having had [[Conflict of interest|conflicts of interest]].<ref>Poole, Robert (April 13, 2010) [http://reason.com/archives/2010/04/13/get-the-government-out-of-airp Get the Government Out of Airport Screening: The TSA's conflicts of interest prevent better, cheaper security] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160712033126/http://reason.com/archives/2010/04/13/get-the-government-out-of-airp |date=July 12, 2016 }}, ''[[Reason Magazine|Reason]]''</ref>

The TSA was accused of having performed poorly at the [[First inauguration of Barack Obama|2009 Presidential Inauguration]] viewing areas, which left thousands of ticket holders excluded from the event in overcrowded conditions, while those who had arrived before the checkpoints were in place avoided screening altogether.<ref>{{cite web |title=TSA Helps Secure Inauguration |publisher=Transportation Security Administration |date=January 21, 2009 |url=http://www.tsa.gov/press/happenings/2009_inauguration.shtm |access-date=January 22, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090510123416/https://www.tsa.gov/press/happenings/2009_inauguration.shtm |archive-date=May 10, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=And Then We Knew It Was Too Late |newspaper=Washington Post |date=January 20, 2009 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/20/AR2009012003362.html |access-date=January 22, 2009 | first1=Pamela | last1=Constable | author-link=Pamela Constable}}</ref>

In 2013, dozens of TSA workers were fired or suspended for illegal gambling at [[Pittsburgh International Airport]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2013/09/19/dozens-of-tsa-employees-fired-suspended-for-illegal-gambling-ring-at-pittsburgh-intl-airport/|title=Dozens Of TSA Employees Fired, Suspended For Illegal Gambling Ring At Pittsburgh Int'l Airport|date=September 19, 2013}}</ref> and eight TSA workers were arrested in connection with stolen parking passes at [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport]].{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

A 2013, [[GAO]] report showed a 26% increase in misconduct among TSA employees between 2010 and 2012, from 2,691 cases to 3,408.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/31/travel/tsa-misconduct/|title=Government report: TSA employee misconduct up 26% in 3 years - CNN.com|author1=Michael Pearson | author2= Ed Payne | author3=Rene Marsh|date=July 31, 2013|work=CNN}}</ref> Another GAO report said that there is no evidence that the Screening of Passengers by Observation Techniques (SPOT) behavioral detection program, with an annual budget of hundreds of millions of dollars, is effective.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/gao-says-there-is-no-evidence-that-a-tsa-program-to-spot-terrorists-is-effective/2013/11/13/fca999a0-4c93-11e3-be6b-d3d28122e6d4_story.html|title=GAO says there is no evidence that a TSA program to spot terrorists is effective|author=Ashley Halsey III|date=November 13, 2013|newspaper=Washington Post}}</ref>

A 2013 report by the Homeland Security Department Inspector General's Office charged that TSA was using criminal investigators to do the job of lower-paid employees, wasting millions of dollars a year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/25/politics/tsa-investigators-pay/|title=Audit shows highly paid TSA investigators perform lesser tasks|author1=Mike M. Ahlers | author2=Rene Marsh|date=October 25, 2013|work=CNN}}</ref>

On December 3, 2013, the United States House of Representatives passed the [[Transportation Security Acquisition Reform Act (H.R. 2719; 113th Congress)]] in response to criticism of the TSA's acquisition process as wasteful, costly, and ineffective.<ref name=techreform1>{{cite news|last=Kasperowicz|first=Pete|title=House to push tech reform at TSA|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/technology/191721-house-to-push-tech-reform-at-tsa/|access-date=December 4, 2013|newspaper=The Hill|date=December 2, 2013}}</ref><ref name="18 July 2013">{{cite web|title=Bipartisan Legislation Introduced to Reform TSA's Acquisition Process|url=http://homeland.house.gov/press-release/bipartisan-legislation-introduced-reform-tsa-s-acquisition-process|publisher=Committee on Homeland Security of the US House of Representatives|access-date=December 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140802085801/http://homeland.house.gov/press-release/bipartisan-legislation-introduced-reform-tsa-s-acquisition-process|archive-date=August 2, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> If the bill became law, it would require the TSA to develop a comprehensive technology acquisition plan and present regular reports to Congress about its successes and failures to adhere to this plan. An April 2013 report from the [[Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General]] indicated that the TSA had 17,000 items with an estimated cost of $185.7 million stored in its warehouses on May 31, 2012.<ref name=oigreportonwarehouse>{{cite web|last=Richards|first=Anne L.|title=Transportation Security Administration Logistics Center - Inventory Management|url=http://www.oig.dhs.gov/assets/Mgmt/2013/OIG_13-82_Apr13.pdf|publisher=Office of Inspector General - Department of Homeland Security|access-date=December 4, 2013|date=April 26, 2013|archive-date=March 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323002750/https://www.oig.dhs.gov/assets/Mgmt/2013/OIG_13-82_Apr13.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> The auditors found that "TSA stored unusable or obsolete equipment, maintained inappropriate safety stock levels, and did not develop an inventory management process that systematically deploys equipment."<ref name="oigreportonwarehouse"/>

In January 2014, [[Jason Edward Harrington]], a former TSA screener at [[O'Hare International Airport]], said that fellow staff members assigned to review body scan images of airline passengers routinely joked about fliers' weight, attractiveness, and penis and breast sizes. According to Harrington, screeners would alert each other to attractive female passengers with the code phrase "Hotel Papa" so that staff would have an opportunity to view the passengers' nude form in body scanner monitors and retaliated against rude flyers by delaying them at the checkpoint. TSA Administrator John Pistole responded by saying that all the scanners had been replaced and the screening rooms were disabled. He did not deny that the behaviors described by Harrington took place.<ref>{{cite web|title='New TSA in town,' agency says in response to screener's charges|url=http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2014/01/31/22527381-new-tsa-in-town-agency-says-in-response-to-screeners-charges?lite&lite=obinsite|publisher=NBC News|access-date=December 4, 2013}}</ref>

In May 2016, actress [[Susan Sarandon]] claimed that during the entire time of the Bush administration she was "harassed every time I came into the country". She said that she hired two lawyers to contact the TSA to determine why she had been targeted but that she assumed it was because she was critical of the Bush administration. She said the harassment stopped after her attorneys followed up a second time with the TSA.<ref>Interview on The Late, Late Show with James Corden. CBS Corporation. May 3, 2016.</ref>

In July 2018, a case heard in the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit|Third Circuit Appeals Court]] ruled that TSA agents are not "investigative or law enforcement officers" and thus are not liable under the [[Federal Tort Claims Act]] (FTCA). The case extended from a woman who had been detained and arrested by TSA in 2006 but later the criminal charges were acquitted in court; she had sought damages under the FTCA for damages related to the false arrest and related matters.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-tsa-lawsuit/tsa-screeners-win-immunity-from-abuse-claims-appeals-court-idUSKBN1K125W | title = TSA screeners win immunity from abuse claims: appeals court | first = Jonathan | last = Stempel | date = July 11, 2018 | access-date = July 11, 2018 | work =[[Reuters]] }}</ref>

An [[ACLU]] study found that the TSA disproportionately targets Arabs, Muslims and Latinos, despite DHS claims to the contrary.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/feb/08/tsa-screening-racial-religious-profiling-aclu-study|title=TSA screening program risks racial profiling amid shaky science – study|first=Spencer|last=Ackerman|newspaper=The Guardian |date=February 8, 2017|via=www.theguardian.com}}</ref>