In a scathing attack published in the New York Post, a former Newark Transportation Security Agency employee blasted the ill-prepared, undisciplined and ineffectual TSA screening process throughout the country, calling it “make believe” and largely for show.
Because cameras are rolling, the employee said screeners are forced to do “something” – including pat downs and other tasks that make it look as if the TSA makes our airways safer. “I’ve had to screen small children and explain to their parents I had no choice but to “check” them. I would only place my hands on their arms and bottom half of their legs, and the entire “pat-down” lasted 10 seconds. This goes completely against TSA procedure.”
“These are the employees who could never keep a job in the private sector,” he said. “I wouldn’t trust them to walk my dog.”
He continued by saying TSA agents have been repeatedly caught falling asleep on the job, and the failure rate of catching potentially “dangerous” objects is quite high. Supervisors are often mentally elsewhere and play very little role in the day-to-day operations of the TSA. The agency does not require a high school diploma to be a screener, and most screeners are there primarily because of the generous pay (~$15/hour, starting) and benefits. Most do not care, while some are far too generous exercising their “right” to confiscate passenger’s belongings.
“A small number of screeners are delusional zealots who believe they’re keeping America safe by taking your snow globe, your 2-inch pocket knife, your 4-ounce bottle of shampoo and performing invasive pat-downs on your kids.”
