Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Available On Air Stations
Watch Live

Military

Turbulence Hits Military Airport Screening Program

TSA Screening At Airport
TSA Screening At Airport

A government program that was suppose to help members of the U.S. military get through airport security screening more quickly won't be implemented as soon as it was supposed to.

The program was to have been put in place in most airports nationwide by now, according to the Military Times. But only the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington, D.C. have expedited screening for military.

The problem? Transportation Security Administration official Chris McLaughlin testified before the House Homeland Security Committee Wednesday that a way to pre-verify the validity of military ID cards and the people holding them hasn't been figured out yet.

Advertisement

Committee member and author of the bill that created the TSA military screening program, Rep. Chip Cravaack, said the measure was supposed to be implemented by the beginning of July:

“You are already in violation of the law. This law is not optional. Just last week, I spoke to a service member who was asked to strip down to go through security, to remove boots and his service blouse, and another service members a few weeks before that.”

The program, called TSA Pre✓™, is supposed to allow active and reserve military members to use lines reserved for people who have been pre-screened by TSA. That line allows travelers to go through security without having to take off their shoes, belts, or jackets. They also don't have to remove laptops from their carrying cases or those 3-1-1 bags from luggage.