TSA Screening Barely Working Better Than Chance

rwise2112 writes "The General Accounting Office (GAO) has completed a study of the TSAs SPOT (Screening of Passengers by Observation Techniques) program and found the program is only slightly better than chance at finding criminals. Given that the TSA has spent almost a billion dollars on the program, that's a pretty poor record. As a result, the GAO is requesting that both Congress and the president withhold funding from the program until the TSA can demonstrate its effectiveness."

How much better than 100% do you have to be?

[Anonymous Coward]

I mean, no successful attacks since 9/11. So in order to obtain funding, they have to let some 'slip through?' That's messed up.

But what about the arts?

[naoursla]

This is just another example of the government cutting funding for the arts. Sure, it may be security theatre but these days that is the only kind of theatre I see to have time for.

Maybe we can get the National Endowment for the Arts to pick up the slack. Or they could move to an NPR model and hold pledge drives.

TSA Screening Barely Working Better Than Chance...

[The Grim Reefer]

Well that's much better than I would have guessed.

Willey E coyote, supra-genius

[TiggertheMad]

pistol ports in the doors would probably be an easy solution to this problem. Of course, a much simpler solution might be a trap door in front of the door...

Ignobel Prize

[Roger W Moore]

Of course, a much simpler solution might be a trap door in front of the door...

I believe you were joking but look at the 2013 winner of the Ignobel prize for safety engineering [wikipedia.org].