The Office of The Inspector General (IG) issued a report Tuesday regarding ongoing employee problems at the TSA. The results are not surprising. Low morale among screeners is compromising national security.

"Given their frustration, employees may be distracted and less focused on their security and screening responsibilities," the IG report says.

Also not surprising, TSA Chief Kip Hawley says it's all untrue.

Thomas Frank writes about the report for USA Today, but a more interesting take comes from Michael Grabell at ProPublica who explains how the Office of The Ombudsman, meant to be a confidential safe haven for screeners to discuss problems, works more like the barnyard in Animal Farm.

At one airport, a TSA employee was reportedly reprimanded by his boss for complaining to the ombudsman about work conditions. When the employee complained to the ombudsman about the reprimand, he was reportedly reprimanded again.

At another airport, screeners said a manager wrote down the names of employees attending a group meeting with the ombudsman.  A manager reportedly told one employee being considered for a promotion that attending the meeting "was a career move."

And when ombudsman staff tried to reach out to employees and identify workplace concerns, some TSA officials blocked them from visiting the checkpoints.

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