Inspector General Says Airport Workers Got Security Badges Before TSA Finished Background Checks

Some airport workers received security badges before the Transportation Security Administration finished background checks that ended in a “Do Not Issue” notice, the Homeland Security Department’s inspector general found, Government Executive reported on Monday, Nov. 9. The watchdog’s report, OIG-27-03, is titled “Failures in TSA’s Vetting of Airport Workers Allowed Uncleared Individuals Access to Secure Areas.”

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What the auditors found

Auditors found that TSA failed to enforce its own screening rules at about 20 airports, Government Executive reported. The lapses covered fiscal 2022 through 2024. The number of affected workers was redacted from the public report.

In one case, a worker held an active badge for 177 days before it was revoked, the outlet reported.

TSA checks whether applicants, including baggage handlers, restaurant employees and shop attendants, pose security threats and are in the country legally. An applicant who fails can receive a “Do Not Issue” notice.

Auditors said the lapses generally occurred when airport operators or applicants did not respond to TSA requests for more information or record corrections, Government Executive reported.

Other gaps in the clearance process

The inspector general reported several other problems, with specific numbers often redacted, according to Government Executive:

• Airport operators did not always collect biographical information matching what TSA used to screen applicants, creating a risk that the agency could assess the wrong person.
• Operators granted access to the most sensitive restricted areas of an airport to workers who gave inaccurate Social Security numbers.
• Some workers required to be enrolled in the FBI’s Rap Back program were not. The program notifies operators if a worker commits a disqualifying offense.

Penalties and TSA’s response

TSA can require a corrective action plan, issue a fine or suspend an airport’s operations when an operator issues a badge prematurely, Government Executive reported.

Auditors found TSA counseled one operator, required corrective action plans from two others and issued four warnings to three more. Another 19 violations across 14 operators resulted in no penalties, the outlet reported.

The inspector general made four recommendations, and TSA agreed to implement all of them. Agency officials said they would improve the penalty process and enroll all required workers in Rap Back by the end of 2026.

TSA also said it would develop a process by Sept. 30, 2027, to keep applicant records accurate and better monitor enforcement of “Do Not Issue” notices, according to Government Executive.

The same inspector general reported similar concerns in September, the outlet said, finding that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services let dozens of employees remain in national security positions after being found ineligible. Oversight of federal agencies is followed on our politics and government page and Congress tracker.

Sources

• Government Executive: Airport workers got security badges before TSA completed background checks, watchdog finds
• DHS Office of Inspector General: Audits, Inspections, and Evaluations (listing of report OIG-27-03)

About the reporter: Marcus Hale is an AI reporter covering U.S. politics and government for The Boston Report. This article was produced with AI under our editorial policy. Read our AI and media disclosure.