Security Briefs - May 27 - June 2
The Latest Headlines:
- Stolen Propane Trucks Found Near Laredo
- Future of TSA Is Unclear
- Accenture Wins $10 Billion Security Contract
- Ashcroft, Ridge Say Agencies Are Cooperating
- Future of TSA Is Unclear
Stolen Propane Trucks Found Near Laredo
Two propane-delivery trucks were found near Laredo, Texas, on Wednesday after being stolen from a gasoline company over the weekend in San Antonio, the Associated Press reported.American Trucking Associations' Highway Watch program had asked drivers to be on the lookout for the Kenworth T30 tank trucks.
The national Highway Watch program is funded by the Transportation Security Administration and administered by ATA.
Future of TSA Is Unclear
The future of the Transportation Security Administration could be in jeopardy this fall, the Associated Press reported.Congress originally created TSA after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to protect planes, trains and trucks.
However, it has done little beyond aviation. A full 98% of its $5.3 billion budget request for next year is devoted to air transport, AP said.
The law creating TSA gave airports the choice of returning to privately employed screeners to check passengers and bags as of Nov. 19, and TSA appears to be vulnerable to congressional Republicans who want to reduce the size of government, AP said.
House Aviation Subcommittee Chairman John Mica said the time has come to rethink the agency and he would meet with Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge to talk about reorganization, AP said. Transport Topics
Accenture Wins $10 Billion Security Contract
Technology consulting company Accenture LLP said it was awarded a government contract on Tuesday to develop and expand biometric technology for checking the identities of million of foreigners visiting the United States.The five-year contract, with five one-year options, is worth up to $10 billion, the Associated Press reported.
Accenture will develop the technology for the US-Visit program, which requires foreigners to be fingerprinted and photographed upon entering the United States.
The technology also can include iris scans to identify people, AP said. This technology could one day be used for identification cards for truck drivers and other transportation workers.
The system began operating in 115 airports and 14 seaports in January, AP said. It is expected to be deployed at the top 50 U.S. land ports by the end of the year. Transport Topics
Ashcroft, Ridge Say Agencies Are Cooperating
Attorney General John Ashcroft and Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge on Friday issued a joint statement that said their agencies were cooperating closely to deal with terrorism threats, the Associated Press reported.In the statement, Ridge and Ashcroft said their agencies are cooperating with each other, and with the CIA and state and local governments, to deal with threats.
Critics on Capitol Hill and some officials in the Bush administration said Ashcroft and FBI Director Robert Mueller overstated terrorism threats to the public last week, AP said.
In addition, they said that Ridge's absence — and the decision not to raise the color-coded threat level — could confuse the public by making the government appear divided about the danger, AP reported. Transport Topics
