The TSA doesn't know if its machines work
A new report from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) inspector general concludes that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) "is not properly managing the maintenance of its airport screening equipment" and therefore cannot be certain that the machines are "ready for operational use." Nevertheless, the TSA has still managed to spend $1.2 billion on maintenance contracts that it now admits maybe didn't actually fix stuff.
As J.D. Tucille points out at Reason, it's remarkable we found out about this expensive incompetence at all: "The TSA has a history of sitting on negative reviews. It also buys expensive equipment and then forgets about it, so that maintenance never becomes an issue." And per a former TSA screener, the agency may have known from the get-go that the body scanners that are now in disrepair are not effective.
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