TSA

Remember when Transportation Security Administration was born in 2002? How important it was in keeping our travel safe, our security? The months of arguing over whether to have private contractor screeners or federal employee screeners.

TSA has been awarding contracts since its birth. A few million here, a few million there. Last month GE, L-3 Communications, and Siemens awarded contracts. GE $36 million, $28 million to L-3, both to maintain "explosive detection systems." Boeing completed its contract with TSA, for which the company received $1.38 billion "to deploy explosive detection systems and explosive trace detection systems." Just this month Siemens won $46.9 million to x-ray us at the airport. In February CSC took a $16 million contract to support the TSA's Office of Transportation "Vetting and Credentialing." They will provide "adjudication professionals." Lockheed Martin previously awarded the contract to be TSA's "specialized security training contractor." Also BearingPoint, Northrop Grumman Corp., Maximus Inc., and EDS Corp. of Plano, TX, and a long list of other winners.

As of today, the gravy train may be slowing down. WaPo writes that "The Transportation Security Administration, once the flagship agency in the nation's $20 billion effort to protect air travelers, is now targeted for sharp cuts in its high-profile mission."

Bush henchmen say they do not expect the demise of the TSA and await info on its future after Michael Chertoff completes his review. Can all the pillaging and plundering under the guise of TSA be about done? (If you believe WaPo you'll believe that much of the money "goes toward salaries for more than 45,000 security screeners," gave me my first chuckle this a.m.)