Department
of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today (July 22) marked
the sixth anniversary of the issuance of the 9/11 Commission Report by
releasing a 2010 progress report outlining advancements in the Department’s
capabilities to protect against and respond to acts of terrorism and other
threats—including a series of unprecedented steps to bolster aviation security
in the United States and around the world.
“The
9/11 Commission’s recommendations have in many ways set the course for the
Department’s efforts to combat security threats,” said Secretary Napolitano.
“By working with our partners across the globe, we have achieved historic
advances in international aviation security – including bolstering explosives
detection, strengthening the vetting of passengers against terrorist
watchlists, refining passenger screening techniques and deploying tens of
thousands of trained aviation security personnel—that make air travel safer for
everyone.”
Highlights
from the DHS Progress Report Include:
Major
Aviation Security Milestones
DHS
has fulfilled a key 9/11 Commission recommendation by implementing Secure
Flight for 100 percent of passengers flying domestically and internationally on
U.S. airlines, meaning that TSA, not the air carriers, vets passengers against
government watchlists using passenger name, date of birth, and gender before a
boarding pass is issued. This accounts for over 90 percent of all travel to,
from, and within the United States. TSA expects to convert all international
carriers to Secure Flight by December 2010.
DHS
is also on track to meet the Congressionally-mandated 100 percent screening
requirement for all air cargo on domestic passenger aircraft by August 2010. As
of May 1, 2010, 75 percent of cargo on passenger aircraft departing from U.S.
locations was already being screened under DHS security programs, largely
through the Certified Cargo Screening Program, which permits entities who have
undergone rigorous inspection and certification processes throughout the air
cargo supply chain to screen cargo. Currently, there are over 1.5 million
shippers in TSA’s Known Shipper Management System that that have been certified
as meeting specific security standards.
Deterring
Terrorism through New, More Flexible Screening Measures
In
April 2010, DHS began implementing new enhanced security measures for all air
carriers with international flights to the United States to strengthen the
safety and security of all passengers. These new measures utilize real-time,
threat-based intelligence along with multiple layers of security, both seen and
unseen, to more effectively mitigate evolving terrorist threats.
DHS
analysis of passenger data played a critical role in the recent
counterterrorism cases against Najibullah Zazi, who pled guilty to plotting to
bomb New York subways, David Headley, who pled guilty for his role in the 2008
Mumbai terrorist attacks, and Times Square bombing suspect Faisal Shahzad.
Strengthening
Domestic Aviation Security
TSA
utilizes a layered security strategy, with measures both seen and unseen, at
airports across the country, with more than 50,000 Transportation Security
Officers, Transportation Security Inspectors, Behavior Detection Officers, and
canine teams. The Department has also made unprecedented investments in
passenger screening through Advanced Technology X-Ray machines, Advanced
Imaging Technology machines, bottle liquid scanners, Explosive Trace Detection
machines, and other enhanced threat-detection equipment that increase the
Department’s ability to detect metallic and non-metallic explosives and other
threats. TSA is also investing in new, state-of-the-art in-line explosives
detection systems and other technology to streamline checked baggage screening
at airports throughout the U.S.
In
addition, DHS has strengthened partnerships across the federal government,
working with the Department of Justice to enhance risk-based aviation security
countermeasures and collaborating with the Department of Energy and its
National Laboratories to leverage their expertise in building risk-based
technology solutions to key aviation security challenges.
Further,
in order to facilitate legitimate travel and effectively deploy screening and
security resources, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has vetted and enrolled
over 780,000 travelers from over 100 countries in four Trusted Traveler
Programs (NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST, and Global Entry). These programs expedite
travel for members who voluntarily apply, provide biometric identification,
pass extensive vetting, pay a fee, and provide comprehensive data to CBP for
rigorous security threat assessment checks.
Historic
International Aviation Security Summits
Since
the attempted terrorist attack on December 25, 2009, Secretary Napolitano, in
conjunction with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), has been
leading a global initiative to strengthen the international aviation system
against the evolving threats posed by terrorists. Secretary Napolitano has
participated in regional aviation security summits around the world, forging an
historic consensus and signing agreements with her international colleagues in
Africa, the Asia/Pacific region, the Western Hemisphere, Europe and the Middle
East to strengthen the civil aviation system through enhanced information
analysis and sharing, cooperation on technological development and modernized
aviation security standards.
To
view the Department’s full 9/11 Commission progress report, visit http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/9-11-commission-update-report-7-22-10.pdf