An investigation by the Homeland Security Department has uncovered shocking facts: Government workers aren't more efficient than private sector employees.
What a surprise. ...
The government did a poor job from the very beginning. It failed to screen the people it was hiring as security screeners. It hired thousands without properly looking into their backgrounds. ...
Now a new report has been issued by the Homeland Security Department and the investigating arm of Congress. It found that airport security is lax, and the Transportation Security Administration is too bureaucratic. ...
The outrage here is not that the government workers are not an improvement. ... The outrage is that anyone thought it would be different. ...
The federal takeover of airport security made sense. It was worthwhile to standardize and unify airport security policies and procedures around the country. Once they are standardized and unified, they can more easily be improved. But efficiency does not automatically come with government action.
That's a lesson for all federal lawmakers and officials to take to heart. The immediate goal must be for the Transportation Security Administration to take these warnings seriously and improve security before terrorists again take advantage of poor security.
‹ Herald-Journal, Spartanburg, S.C. - April 23
