Reports yesterday of a massive security breachby the Transportation Security Administration, which accidentally posted online extremely sensitive information about its airport screening procedures, is coming up repeatedly in today’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. Included among the information TSA posted were the limitations of x-ray machines at airports and the fact that only 20 percent of bags checked in are hand searched for explosives. The document also revealed sample CIA, Congressional and law enforcement credentials — all of which experts say would be easy for any terrorist to duplicate.
DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano, testifying at the hearing, said that “the security of the traveling public has never been put at risk. The document that was posted was an out of date document.” Still, she acknowledged that the posting violating procedures, and promised that agency staff, as well as the inspector general, will look into how exactly that happened.
“I’ve directed that we do a review department-wide of all of our components to make sure that we are being rigorous and very disciplined on what is posted and what is not.”
This post has been updated.