The TSA’s decision to deploy Federal Air Marshals to the southern border has left American flights vulnerable and passengers in danger.
At a Glance
- TSA cannot guarantee that deploying Air Marshals to the border didn’t affect flight safety
- Over 1,114 air marshals have been sent to the border since 2019
- The program has cost approximately $45 million in travel and payroll
- Sen. Ted Cruz demands answers on flight risks due to these deployments
- Passengers have faced dangerous situations on flights without air marshals present
TSA’s Risky Border Gambit
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has been playing a dangerous game with America’s flight safety. Since 2019, the agency has been deploying Federal Air Marshals (FAMS) to the U.S.-Mexico border, pulling these security personnel away from their primary duty of protecting air travelers. This move has not only compromised the safety of American skies but has also raised serious questions about the TSA’s priorities and decision-making process.
More than 1,114 air marshals have been sent to the border for tasks entirely unrelated to transportation security. These highly trained professionals, whose expertise lies in detecting and neutralizing threats on aircraft, are now being used for administrative processes and welfare checks at the border. This misallocation of resources has cost taxpayers approximately $45 million in travel and payroll expenses, all while potentially leaving air travelers exposed to increased risks.
Watchdog Warnings Ignored
The Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General has sounded the alarm on the policy. In a damning report, the watchdog stated, “TSA cannot assure deployments did not impact FAMS’ mission to mitigate potential risks and threats to our Nation’s transportation system.” This admission is a stark contradiction to the assurances given by TSA Administrator David Pekoske, who claims that air security has not been compromised.
“TSA cannot assure deployments did not impact FAMS’ mission to mitigate potential risks and threats to our Nation’s transportation system,” the watchdog report said.
The inspector general’s findings reveal a troubling lack of oversight and planning. The TSA failed to set baseline goals or conduct a risk assessment for these deployments. This reckless approach to national security is unacceptable, especially when the safety of millions of air travelers is at stake.
Real-World Consequences
The absence of air marshals on flights has already led to dangerous situations. In March 2023, passengers on a United flight faced a harrowing experience when an aggressive man allegedly attempted to open an emergency door mid-flight. With no air marshal present due to the border redeployments, it fell to a civilian passenger, Gretchün Ciluzzi, to confront the threat.
Ciluzzi’s account is chilling: “Why I did stand up first is because I was really thinking we were going to die.” This incident is a stark reminder of the vital role air marshals play in ensuring passenger safety and the potential consequences of their absence.
Political Response and Accountability
The issue has not gone unnoticed in Washington. Senator Ted Cruz has introduced the No FAMS at the Border Act to restrict such deployments unless a crisis is declared. In a letter to the TSA, Cruz demanded answers on the safety risks posed by these border deployments, stating, “It is concerning that the administration has prioritized ushering illegal immigrants into the country over protecting the lives and safety of the traveling public.”
“As the Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (“Committee”), I write regarding the Transportation Security Administration’s (“TSA”) deployment of hundreds of air marshals in the Federal Air Marshal Service (“FAMS”) to the southern border to assist U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) in administering aid to illegal aliens,” Cruz wrote. “It is concerning that the administration has prioritized ushering illegal immigrants into the country over protecting the lives and safety of the traveling public.”
Cruz’s concerns are well-founded. Since President Biden took office, over 6.2 million illegal aliens have been encountered at the southern border, with more than 1.6 million “gotaways.” Even more alarming, more than 150 individuals on the FBI terror watch list have been apprehended at the border since the beginning of the current fiscal year. These statistics underscore the misplaced priorities of the current administration, which seems more concerned with managing the influx of illegal immigrants than protecting American citizens in the skies.
