United States Department of Transportation
i
Security : breaches at federal agencies and airports
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2000
[PDF-116.36 KB]
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TRIS Online Accession Number:818286
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NTL Classification:NTL-AVIATION-Aviation Safety/Airworthiness
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Abstract:This is the statement of Robert H. Hast, Assistance Comptroller General for Investigations, Office of Special Investigations before the Subcommittee on Crime, House Committee on the Judiciary about potential security risks to the United States. The General Accounting Office (GAO) was asked to investigate the potential security risk to the United States posed by the use of stolen or counterfeit law enforcement badges and credentials. Specifically, concerns were expressed that such badges and credentials are readily available for purchase on the Internet and from other public sources and could be used by criminals, terrorists, and foreign intelligence agents to gain access to secure government buildings and airports. To address these concerns, the GAO was asked to acquire fictitious law enforcement badges currently available to the public and to create fictitious identification to accompany the badges. They were also asked that their special agents, in an undercover capacity, attempt to gain access to secure facilities in such a manner that they could have introduced weapons, explosives, chemical/biological agents, listening devices, or other hazardous material. Briefly, the GAO's undercover agents were 100% successful in penetrating 19 of the federal sites and 2 commercial airports. They were able to enter 18 of the 21 sites on the first attempt. The remaining 3 required a second visit before they were able to penetrate the sites. At no time during the undercover visits were their agents' bogus credentials or badges challenged by anyone. At the 21 sites that the undercover agents successfully penetrated, they could have carried in weapons, listening devices, explosives, chemical/biological agents, devices, and/or other such items/materials. At each visit the agents carried bogus badges and identification, declared themselves as armed law enforcement officers, and gained entry by avoiding screening. At least one agent always carried a valise. The sites were selected on the basis of their involvement in national security, intelligence, and criminal justice, and in their symbolic or historic significance. Sites penetrated were: Central Intelligence Agency Headquarters, the Pentagon, Federal Bureau of Investigation Headquarters, Department of Justice Headquarters, Department of State Headquarters, Department of Energy Headquarters, Immigration and Naturalization Service Headquarters, Library of Congress, National Archives, Department of Agriculture Headquarters, Department of Education Headquarters, Department of Health and Human Services Headquarters, Department of Housing and Urban Development Headquarters, Department of Labor Headquarters, Department of Transportation Headquarters, Federal Emergency Management Agency Headquarters, National Aeronautics and Space Administration Headquarters, U.S. Courthouse and Federal Building, Ronald Reagan National Airport and Orlando International Airport.
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