As a concerned citizen, I have closely observed the workings of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and realized with dismay its operation under the watchful eye of the Department of Homeland Security. Given the importance of transportation security and its global implications, the TSA deserves to operate as an independent government agency, free from external influences.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that has authority over the security of transportation systems within, and connecting to, the United States. It was created as a response to the September 11 attacks to improve airport security procedures and consolidate air travel security under a combined federal law enforcementand regulatory agency.

The TSA develops key policies to protect the U.S. transportation system, including highways, railroads, bus networks, mass transit systems, ports, pipelines, and intermodal freight facilities. It fulfills this mission in conjunction with other federal, state, local and foreign government partners. However, the TSA's primary mission is airport security and the prevention of aircraft hijacking. It is responsible for screening passengers and baggage at more than 450 U.S. airports, employing screening officers, explosives detection dog handlers, and bomb technicians in airports, and armed Federal Air Marshals and Federal Flight Deck Officers on aircraft.

At first a part of the Department of Transportation, the TSA became part of DHS in March 2003. It is currently led by Administrator David Pekoskeand is headquartered in Springfield, Virginia. As of the fiscal year 2023, the TSA operated on a budget of approximately $9.70 billion and employed over 47,000 Transportation Security Officers, Transportation Security Specialists, Federal Air Marshals, and other security personnel.

The TSA has screening processes and regulations related to passengers and checked and carry-on luggage, including identification verification, pat-downs, full-body scanners, and explosives screening. Since its inception, the agency has been subject to criticism and controversy regarding the effectiveness of various procedures, as well as incidents of baggage theft, data security, and allegations of prejudicial treatment towards certain ethnic groups.[3] Undercover tests conducted by the Department of Homeland Security have shown that the TSA's failure rate frequently ranges between 80% and 95%.[4

In June 2011, TSA fired 36 screeners at the Honolulu airport for regularly allowing bags through without being inspected.[173]

In 2011, an artist, Geoff McGann, was detained by the TSA, arrested, and charged for wearing a watch which contained visible wiring and fuse-like elements, despite containing no explosive ingredients.[174]

In March 2012, American attorney Jonathan Corbett published video demonstrating a vulnerability in TSA's body scanners that would allow metallic objects to pass undetected.[175] TSA downplayed, though did not deny, the vulnerability,[176] and researchers later confirmed its existence.[177]

In May 2012, a report from the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General stated that the TSA "does not have a complete understanding" of breaches at the nation's airports, with some hubs doing very little to fix or report security breaches. These findings will be[needs update]presented to Congress.[178] Rep. Darrell Issa, then-chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, and Rep. John Mica, then-chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, were reported in 2012 to have had several joint hearings concerning the cost and benefits of the various safety programs including full-body scanners, the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), and the behavior detection program, among others.[179]

A 2015 investigation by the Homeland Security Inspector General revealed that undercover investigators were able to smuggle banned items through checkpoints in 95% of their attempts.[180]

Some measures employed by the TSA have been accused of being ineffective and fostering a false sense of safety.[181][182] This led security expert Bruce Schneier to coin the term security theater to describe those measures.

Maintaining transportation security is a task of monumental importance, and it requires stringent oversight and quick decision-making. For the benefit of both the TSA and the American people, it is indispensable for this arm to operate independently, free from the regulatory restraints and politics of its parent agency, DHS.

An independent TSA would enhance its national and international credibility, streamline its decision-making processes, and potentially result in the improvement of its efficiency of operations. With the pressing need for enhanced global security, there is no better time for this change than now.

Therefore, we call on the US Department of Homeland Security to take the necessary actions in order to make the TSA an entirely independent government agency. Sign this petition and contribute to our common effort towards a safer, secure future for all traveling citizens.