TSA fail

Robert LeCompte Jul 6, 2025

Feb 6, 2018

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                <h1>TSA fail</h1>
                <h2><p>The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently put its Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to the test by having undercover "red teams" try to smuggle weapons through airport security checkpoints. In 67 out of the 70 attempts, at dozens of airports across the country, the red teams were able</p></h2>
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               <p>By <a href="/author/robert-lecompte-crosscut-com/">Robert LeCompte</a></p> 
              <p><time datetime="2025-02-04T05:00:00-08:00">Feb 6, 2018</time></p>
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            <p>The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently put its Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to the test by having undercover "red teams" try to smuggle weapons through airport security checkpoints. In 67 out of the 70 attempts, at dozens of airports across the country, the red teams were able to sneak weapons (both makeshift and otherwise) past TSA, reports <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/ABCNews/exclusive-undercover-dhs-tests-find-widespread-security-failures/story?id=31434881&ref=dev.cascadepbs.org">ABC</a>. In one instance a DHS investigator was stopped after he set off an alarm. Following a pat down he was waved through the checkpoint — with a fake bomb taped to his back.</p><p>But, hey, we're not worried. In response to his agency's dismal and potentially dangerous performance, DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson “immediately directed TSA to implement a series of actions ... to address the issues raised,” according to the DHS.</p>
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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently put its Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to the test by having undercover "red teams" try to smuggle weapons through airport security checkpoints. In 67 out of the 70 attempts, at dozens of airports across the country, the red teams were able to sneak weapons (both makeshift and otherwise) past TSA, reports ABC. In one instance a DHS investigator was stopped after he set off an alarm. Following a pat down he was waved through the checkpoint — with a fake bomb taped to his back.

But, hey, we're not worried. In response to his agency's dismal and potentially dangerous performance, DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson “immediately directed TSA to implement a series of actions ... to address the issues raised,” according to the DHS.

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By Robert LeCompte

Robert LeCompte is an editorial intern at Crosscut. He studies communications and film at The Evergreen State College where he recently transferred from Maryland. When not working, he can usually be f