RPT: REVIEW - Longest Government Shutdown In US History Boosts Security Risks At Airports

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th January, 2019) The longest government shutdown in US history has disrupted operations and compromised security at several airports across the country as a result of thousands of Federal workers being put on furlough.

On Monday, day 24 of the shutdown, US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Assistant Administrator for Public Affairs Michael Bilello in a statement said four airports had to activate backup plans - at least on a temporary basis - to maintain security levels amid staffing shortages.

"Miami International Airport, George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Washington-Dulles International Airport are exercising their contingency plans to uphold aviation security standards," Bilello said in a Twitter post. Later in the day the spokesman said the Miami and Washington airports had returned to normal operations.

The government shutdown became the longest in the country's history on Saturday upon entering day number 22. Friday marked the first missed paycheck for more than 800,000 federal government workers.

Trade groups and unions representing mechanics, pilots, flight attendants and airlines last week called on the Trump administration and Democratic lawmakers to reopen the government to prevent a negative impact on the US aviation industry.

Bilello in a separate statement said the TSA on Monday morning experienced a national rate of 7.6 percent in unscheduled worker absences compared to a 3.2 percent rate one year ago.

The TSA, he added, will reallocate screening officers on a national basis to meet staffing shortages that cannot be addressed locally.

Federal air traffic controllers are among some 400,000 government workers who were deemed "essential" and ordered to work without pay.

On Friday, National Air Traffic Controllers Association, the union representing US air traffic controllers, filed a lawsuit against Trump administration, alleging that the government unlawfully deprived thousands of its members of pay "without due process."

US Congressman Bennie Thompson in a letter to the TSA earlier this month asked for details on hundreds of airport security personnel reportedly not showing up to work amid the ongoing federal government shutdown.

"It is only reasonable to expect officer call outs and resignations to increase the longer the shutdown lasts, since no employee can be expected to work indefinitely without pay," the lawmaker said in a letter to TSA chief David Pekoske.

Thompson called on the TSA to handover contingency plans, policies and the numbers on how many officers have called in each day of the shutdown, among other items.

Some airports are reportedly exploring options to hire private contractors to replace the shortfall of TSA officers.

Airports in San Francisco and Kansas City already replaced federal workers with privately hired screening employees with the permission of the US Transportation Department.

Congressional lawmakers in a letter to Trump last week said the shutdown is having significant operational impacts at airports across the country that could affect security. One lawmaker warned that staffing shortages will weaken airport security and expose passengers to terrorist attacks.

"Ports of entry like our airports are the number one target for terrorists and drug traffickers," Congressman Val Demings said in a statement last week.

Aviation trade groups have also expressed concerns over security vulnerabilities because the shutdown halts new and recurrent aircraft certifications, hinders training of new pilots and other aviation workers, and heightens security risks.

Congressman Thompson in the same letter to the TSA chief said he was concerned that if wait times and public pressure increase some personnel may try to manage the effects of the shutdown in ways detrimental to security.

On Monday, however, the TSA in a statement said security remained uncompromised at US airports despite staffing shortages.

George Bush International Airport in Houston, Texas, closed one of its security checkpoints due to staffing shortfalls, TSA said in a statement on Sunday. On Monday, the airport confirmed that the security line remains closed.

Similar measures have reportedly been taken at Miami International Airport, which shut one of its terminals early over the weekend after more TSA officers called in sick.

In addition, Washington Dulles International airport on Monday closed security screening lanes due to the absence of TSA employees, media reported.

And despite its assurances, the TSA revealed that security was indeed compromised earlier this month due to failure to follow security protocol.

"TSA has determined standard procedures were not followed and a passenger did in fact pass through a standard screening TSA checkpoint with a firearm at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on January 2," the agency said in a statement as quoted by ABC news on Monday. "TSA will hold those responsible appropriately accountable."

In remarks to reporters on Monday, Trump said he rejected Senator Lindsey Graham's proposal to reopen the government for a few weeks and insisted that Democrats must agree to compromise before the government can restore its full operations.

The US government shut down on December 22 after congressional Democrats refused to approve more than $5 billion President Donald Trump has demanded to build a wall on the southern border.