The transportation security administration safeguards the aviation security in response to the September 11 attack and the emerging security threats. The department of homeland security has significantly adapted and enhanced the ability to detect threats through the application of a multi-layered risk-based system. The security of the supply chain through cargo screening ensures a smooth functioning and is important to the national security as well as economic growth (U.S Department of Homeland Security, n.d). The travelers who have been initially identified for additional screening can file an inquiry to correct errors in the systems. The U.S Department of Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration implemented secure flight to ensure an accurate and consistent watch list matching process. TSA screens the passenger data, full name, date of birth, gender, and the government watches lists for both international and domestic flights.
Impact and Relevance to Homeland Security
The Department of Homeland Security ensures improved security through layered, risk-based approach and also expedites travel while enhancing security. The use of technology ensures that the nation is ahead with the evolving threats, and continues with the efforts to screen all the cargo despite where or how it moves. The transportation security administration works closely with all the stakeholders in the aviation, rail, transit, highway, and the pipeline sectors. The law enforcement and the intelligence community are also incorporated in ensuring transportation security. The agency sets the standard for excellence in the transportation security through the people, processes, technologies, and intelligence. The layers of security put in place ensure the security of the traveling public and the Nation’s transportation system. There are various checkpoints especially at the airport which are both visible and invisible to the public. The processes involved in the checkpoint include intelligence gathering and analysis, random canine team searches at the airports, federal air marshals, federal deck officers, and checking passenger manifests against the watch lists (U.S. Transportation Security Administration, 2012).
Transportation security is relevant to the department of Homeland security since it enhances the safety of the traveling public as well as individual passengers where possible. The implementation of the risk-based, intelligence driven approach helps to establish transportation security administration as a reliable counterterrorism agency (Elias, Peterman & Frittelli, 2016). The agency focuses its resources on what they know least and uses intelligence to inform the screening process. TSA works to enhance security and fast-track the screening process for the travelers who are willing to share information before they travel.
Transportation security is important for the Department of Homeland Security as evident from the previous attacks. The bombings of the passenger trains in other places like Asia and Europe demonstrate the vulnerability of the passenger rail systems to the terrorist attacks. The recent terror attacks mass transit and passenger rail carriers in Belgium and France are a reason to remain vigilant. There is no defined terrorist threat to the U.S passenger rail system, but there is need to continue building upon surface transportation. Unlike the aviation mode of transportation, surface transportation systems require a direct responsibility of the owners and operators. The main role of DHS’s agency on Transportation Security Administration is to oversight, assess the systems, ensure operator compliance, and collaborate law enforcement and security operations. The agency cannot establish counter-terrorism security measures without involving other security partners (Voeller, 2014).
Transportation security is important to the department of Homeland security due to immense contribution to the security of the entire transport sector. There are unique challenges in the efforts of protecting the nation’s transportation systems. The intelligence reports show that TSA ought to remain focused on the aviation security but also has a responsibility of securing mass transit, railway, highway, and the pipeline sectors. DHS is committed to strengthening the security of the transportation systems using the available information, technology, and ensuring vigilance of every employee at TSA. For instance, the passenger rail systems in the United States carry five times as many passengers every day as the airlines do. The subway system covers many miles on track and is designed to have easy access. The transit goods security issues is a concern for the homeland security department following the low quality of TSA’s surface transportation inspection program.
At present, the terrorist threat is decentralized, more diffuse, and complex. Thus, DHS leverages intelligence, technology, and experience of all the operators and partners to ensure an efficient method of addressing all the security challenges. The threat and immense challenge of the task at hand makes the DHS recognize the importance of TSA in exploring new ideas to ensure appropriate security for the traveling passengers. The department of homeland security implemented an approach comprising of three strategies to address the security issues in the transport sector. They include the use of a risk-based methodology, developing, training, and leading the workforce, and pursuing an effective security capability. The implementation of a risk-based approach to protecting transportation is crucial due to the rapidly evolving global terror threat and the terrorists who continually change their methods of attack (National Research Council, 1999). The risk-based operations are customized to each of the operating environment and transportation mode. The need for professionalism and accountability in the recruitment and retaining of skilled and highly trained workforce is a realization of the relevance of the transportation security to the Department of Homeland Security. Training of the officers enables them to adapt to the new operating procedures, standards, and capabilities. The workforce in the transportation security agency is expected to have high standards of performance and accountability. There is need to reinforce the training of the workforce and management to deliver an effective security system.
Transportation security is relevant to the DHS in regard to the many advances and effective capabilities in the development, acquisition, and deployment of technology. The security strategies for checkpoint screening and other complex systems ensure that the transport sector is secure. The investing of resources by DHS to reduce the vulnerabilities and mitigating the risks ensures that there is freedom of the movement of goods and services. A vast majority of people, goods, and services in the transportation system are genuine and pose minimal risks. However, the DHS works closely with TSA and other security agencies to understand threats and identify the vulnerabilities of the transport systems to reduce the risk and limit the vulnerabilities (McHendry, 2015).
Defense to importance of the topic in safeguarding the United States
A secure transportation system is crucial to the entire national security. The organized groups and individuals motivated to terrorize people or the economy consider the transportation facilities as a target. Thus, securing the transportation system is important in ensuring the nation’s overall security plan. Transportation infrastructure is essential to the functioning of the economy. Most of the transportation activities are drivers of the economy and rely on a functioning transportation system. A disruption in the transportation system provides an opportunity for serious economic harm that makes terrorists target the sector for massive destruction. The transportation facilities provide gathering places for many people thereby subjecting them to terrorist attacks. Terrorists are motivated to strike symbolic targets that have impacts beyond the personal and economic consequences. Collectively, the transport sector is directly involved in the security of the society and. Transportation security is necessary since it is a critical element of the economy, offers a gathering place for people, provides a means to deliver people and products of terrorism, and also includes the institutions with licensing and enforcement (Voeller, 2014).
Security in the transportation industry has always been a challenge in regard to the illegal immigrants, drug smuggling, custom duty evasion, and the use of sub-standard vessels. Transportation security is important to safeguard the United States as stipulated in the mission and goals of the transportation safety administration. The earlier incident of September 11 was a wake-up call to all the security agencies working for agencies in different regions. The need to safeguard the transport sector is due to the underlying impact of terrorism acts to the nation. The transportation security should be a priority for the federal government due to the ease of target by terrorist attacks. DHS (department of homeland security) ensures that all the sectors within the nation are free from attacks. The transport industry should be well managed by DHS in ensuring fast identification of terrorist attacks and response in the event that it occurs. As a matter of fact, transportation facilities are a host to many people who are at risk of terrorist attacks if no measures are enacted to safeguard the sector.
Transportation security is essential in safeguarding the United States since it reduces the risk of disruption of trade in response to the security threats. It also ensures enhanced security against theft and cargo diversion as well as improved security against illegal transport of goods, weapons, drugs, and persons (U.S. Transportation Security Administration, 2012). Also important is the increased confidence in the transport sector due to the elaborate measures in security.
Conclusion
The nations’, air, land, and marine transportation systems are designed to enhance accessibility and efficiency. The two-factor is subject to high possibility of terrorist attack. It can be challenging to shield the transportation sector from terrorist attack, but measures can be put in place to deter terrorists. It is challenging to develop a system of deterrence, protection, and response that reduces the likelihood and consequences of terrorist attack. The transportation security administration agency screens all the passengers in the out as well as within the United Sates by use of the latest technology to enhance security in the sector.
References
Elias B., Peterman D.R., & Frittelli J. (2016) Transportation Security: Issues for the 114th Congress: Congressional Research Service
McHendry Jr., G. F. (2015). The Re(D)Active Force Of The Transportation Security Administration. Criticism, 57(2), 211-233. doi:10.1353/crt.2015.0018
National Research Council (U.S.) (1999). Improving surface transportation security: A research and development strategy. Washington, D.C: National Academy Press.
U.S Department of Homeland Security (n.d) Transportation Security Administration, Transportation Security: Protecting Passengers and Freight,
U.S. Transportation Security Administration (2012) Aviation Week & Space Technology, 174(39), 12
Voeller, J. G. (2014). Transportation security, Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley.
Sherry Roberts is the author of this paper. A senior editor at Melda Research in best nursing writing services if you need a similar paper you can place your order for custom nursing papers.
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