TSA Reportedly Ditching Surveillance Program
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is reportedly moving forward with a pretty significant change in the near future, as the Donald Trump presidential administration is reportedly set to end a prominent federal domestic surveillance program for travelers.
According to a report from CBS News, Trump plans to discontinue the TSA's "Quiet Skies" program, citing multiple anonymous sources. An unnamed U.S. official told the outlet that an official announcement about the move could come as soon as Thursday.
Quiet Skies, which began in 2010, is a government surveillance program that works to identify travelers who could present an elevated risk to aviation security.
The program utilizes analysts and undercover air marshals who are tasked with monitoring people in airports and during flights, according to CBS. The program makes use of outstanding warrants, facial recognition software, identification of suspicious travel patterns and behaviors, and other data to try to prevent terrorist attacks.
While the program was designed to stop terrorist attacks before they happen, it has received a lot of criticism as innocent Americans have been targeted with invasive and inconvenient searches at U.S. airports over the years.
The TSA's surveillance program has also received criticism for tracking U.S. citizens not suspected of any crimes, and it's never been clear what exactly would land an individual on the Quiet Skies list.
Another U.S official told CBS News that aides have debated how to shut down the controversial program without resulting in any lapses in security.
We'll have to see how the change impacts the agency's security efforts.