TSA Has Developed a Risk-Based Covert Testing Program, but Could Better Mitigate Aviation Security Vulnerabilities Identified Through Covert Tests

Details

• Corporate Creators:
  United States. Government Accountability Office
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Transportation safety
  • Testing
  • Aviation safety
  • Risk assessment
  • Recommendations
  • Traffic mitigation
• Publication/ Report Number:
  GAO-08-958
• Resource Type:
  Other
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States
• Corporate Publisher:
  United States. Government Accountability Office
• Abstract:
  The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) uses undercover, or covert, testing to approximate techniques that terrorists may use to identify vulnerabilities in and measure the performance of airport security systems. During these tests, undercover inspectors attempt to pass threat objects through passenger and baggage screening systems, and access secure airport areas. In response to a congressional request, GAO examined (1) TSA’s strategy for conducting covert testing of the transportation system and the extent to which the agency has designed and implemented its covert tests to achieve identified goals; and (2) the results of TSA’s national aviation covert tests conducted from September 2002 to June 2007, and the extent to which TSA uses the results of these tests to mitigate security vulnerabilities. To conduct this work, GAO analyzed covert testing documents and data and interviewed TSA and transportation industry officials.
• Format:
  PDF
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/88993/dot_88993_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.17 MB]
• Collection(s):
  Federal Aviation Administration
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:209ae35ff2d7f9857c4993c623c422f65d07e75810c4de56d21c2f81001f18b5fed6c3a73f27a37b3d0f307ef618e2a7fe31ecbb80588d8ba5a97cc3bcc769b2