Gov't to Take Over Passenger Screening
Thursday, August 26, 2004

WASHINGTON "” The government announced Thursday it is taking over the task of checking the names of airline passengers against terrorism watch lists, saying it can do a more comprehensive and secure job than carriers.

The new system is intended to verify the identity of domestic travelers by amassing information that passengers have given airlines and comparing it with records in government databases. The goal is to better screen travelers by using a larger pool of suspected terrorists than airlines had access to.

The government does not now provide airlines with complete terrorist lists for fear that such information could fall into the hands of U.S. foes, said David Stone, chief of the Transportation Security Administration (search).

"We will have the database under the umbrella of the government so we can have enhanced security and not have the release of the names into arenas where enemies can access them," Stone told reporters in a conference call.

The new system, Secure Flight, is to begin testing in the next two months. It replaces a proposed screening operation derided by critics for failing to adequately ensure passengers' privacy.

But Rep. John Mica, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee on aviation, said it will take a year to put Secure Flight in place after the testing. "I agree with the Sept. 11 commission there's been far too much delay," said Mica, R-Fla.

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