Security shift from TSA to airports could hit Eastern Iowa travelers

A plan by the federal Transportation Security Administration to shift responsibility for some of the security at the nation's airports could end up increasing air fares for travelers.

The cost to The Eastern Iowa Airport would be $93,000 annually, said Tim Bradshaw, the airport's director.

After a man ran into the exit lane at a security checkpoint to say goodbye to his girlfriend and briefly shut down a New York airport, the TSA has been required to have an agent observe the exit lane to prevent similar situations. That includes watching the down escalator at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport to prevent anyone from running up the moving stairs.

The TSA has proposed shifting responsibility for exit lane security to local airport operators on Jan. 1, 2014, as part of its plan to cut its budget, in connection with the federal sequestration that requires a 10 percent across-the-board reduction.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's fiscal 2014 budget includes a reduction of 2,000 TSA positions and $88.1 million related to the exit lane transition to local control.

"When sequester was first talked about, we were told it was to 'trim the fat' in government spending," Bradshaw said. "We now realize that it's more about shifting costs away from the federal government.

"They're doing this without going through the proper channels for a rule change. It really bothers me because we will have to pass this cost on to the airlines, and that will make its way back to the customer in the form of higher air fares.

"It's really unfortunate and a waste of resources."

Bruce Carter, director of aviation at the Quad City International Airport, also opposes the TSA decision. Carter estimates that taking over responsibility for exit lane security will cost the Moline, Ill., airport about $50,000 annually.

Carter, who recently completed a term as chairman of the American Association of Airport Executives in Washington, D.C., noted that the organization is actively working to either halt the TSA action or delay its implementation until alternative technology solutions are approved by the agency.

Joel Bacon, AAAE vice president of federal affairs, said a survey of airport executives projected the annual cost of staffing the security exit lane nationally at $150 million to $200 million.

"Unfortunately this is being driven by budget politics in Washington," Bacon said. "It's not that this makes sense from a policy perspective or even a security perspective. It's merely a cost shift and that's not good from where we sit,  naturally."

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed its version of the budget funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security earlier this year. The Senate Appropriations Committee approved its version of the funding bill on July 18, which includes $2 million to develop technology solutions for exit lane security.

Bacon said the bill is unlikely to be taken up by the full Senate until after the five-week congressional recess that starts Monday and ends Sept. 5.

"At this point in the year, it's unclear whether the bill will go to the floor of the Senate or directly to conference committee," Bacon said. "All of that is up in the air, and a lot is going to depend on the bigger budget politics.

"We have the debt ceiling coming due again in November," he added. "The fiscal year starts on Oct. 1, and none of the appropriations bills have been done, much less gone to conference."

Bacon said the language of the House and Senate bills provides an indication of the concerns that members of Congress have about transferring exit lane security responsibility to the airports.

"I think they are keeping a close eye on how the TSA is going to proceed," Bacon said. "I think it's fair to say they want to be helpful in mitigating the impact this is going to have on airport operators, the airlines and the traveling public."