The Government Accountability Office (GAO) warns that airplanes flying over and into the United States remain at risk of being hijacked. The GAO report, called Progress Has Been Made to Address the Vulnerabilities Exposed by 9/11, but Continued Federal Action Is Needed to Mitigate Further Security Risks, states pretty much just that. The GAO is the audit, evaluation and investigative arm of Congress and exits so Congress can meet its “constitutional responsibilities.” In other words, the job of the GAO is to hold the federal government accountable to the American people.

Reading the report doesn’t give one an overwhelming sense that the GAO is holding the government accountable, but rather that the GAO is holding the government’s hand. The 114-page report is neither hot nor cold; it does some lukewarm praising and some tepid finger-pointing as far as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s performance is concerned. The report is rife with euphemisms.

Mild and indirect expressions abound, while the blunt and harsh realities that face aviation security today are ignored: a 9-year old child able to sneak on plane, fake bombs getting through security, 3,700 TSA uniforms and badges gone missing, a sword getting on board. Instead of specifics, you get polite. Here’s a taste of GAO on lost passports winding up in terrorists’ hands (ie: 9/11):

“While we acknowledge the complexities and challenges of enforcing the statutory requirement and collection information on both blank and issued stolen and lost passports aside, our recent work has identified areas where DHS could do more to help ensure that countries report this information and do so in a timely manner.”

Of course DHS could do more. Why isn’t GAO saying they must do more. Look no further that the Appendix of the GAO report. The Appendix alone is 14 pages long and lists some 147 previous Homeland Security related GAO (and Office of Inspector General) reports — since 9/11. Perhaps GAO will insist DHS do something in one of its upcoming reports. Expect approximately 28 more this year.

Share This Article