WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Undercover investigators were able to slip explosives and weapons past security screeners during tests at 15 U.S. airports, according to a 2003 investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Results of the department's tests, which were cited Thursday by USA Today, were presented in a classified report to members of Congress while a less detailed version was released by the agency's inspector general on Wednesday.
Asked about the report, U.S. Undersecretary for Homeland Security Asa Hutchinson, said on Thursday changes had been made since investigators were able to get past airport security with guns, knives and box cutters in 2003.
"That report was a year ago when the tests were made. Changes were made. We improved our training of the screeners and we've tested them since then and the proficiency rate has improved dramatically," Hutchinson told Fox News.
USA Today quoted Florida Republican Rep. John Mica (news, bio, voting record) as saying the results on weapons were bad enough, but the results on explosives were "absolutely horrendous."
"Unfortunately, it may take some horrific wake-up call (for security shortfalls) to get attention," said Mica, chairman of a House aviation subcommittee.
The security shortcomings were blamed on poor training and management in the report which also cited the need for better equipment and technology.
Airport screeners work for the Transportation Security Administration, a division of the homeland security department.
An earlier report in 2003 by the Government Accountability Office had found that undercover agents were able to slip guns, knives and box cutters past screeners, the newspaper said.
The TSA told Congress last November the agency would carry out more covert tests of airport baggage and passenger screening staff to see whether they detected simulated terrorist threats.
