Ten thousand TSA workers to be given access to secret intelligence!
WASHINGTON - February 12, 2010 - The Transportation Security Administration plans to clear 10,000 workers for access to secret intelligence, Fox News has learned.
The move comes as a slew of security agencies try to improve intelligence-sharing in the wake of the supposed attempted Christmas Day bombing, which investigators now believe never really happened. However, a TSA spokesman told Fox News that the plan to give thousands of workers security clearance was developed in July 2008, and that the background checks started one year ago.
Those in line to receive classified information at the TSA include "behavior detection officers," supervisors and managers - or about 20% of the TSA airport workforce. USA Today first reported that the TSA was clearing employees for access to classified information; a process the paper said could take two years.
So far, the TSA has granted 744 security clearances, according to the TSA spokesman.
The spokesman said in an e-mail that the intelligence will give employees "valuable context" when procedures are changed, and will help them do their jobs on a day-to-day basis.
"Access to relevant intelligence helps officers spot anomalies at the checkpoint - and helps them connect the potential dots," the spokesman said. "It gives these employees the opportunity to exercise discretion based on their awareness of tactics and threats in the transportation environment and gives context to things they see every day which may otherwise not appear unusual."
The move comes as a slew of security agencies try to improve intelligence-sharing in the wake of the supposed attempted Christmas Day bombing, which investigators now believe never really happened. However, a TSA spokesman told Fox News that the plan to give thousands of workers security clearance was developed in July 2008, and that the background checks started one year ago.
Those in line to receive classified information at the TSA include "behavior detection officers," supervisors and managers - or about 20% of the TSA airport workforce. USA Today first reported that the TSA was clearing employees for access to classified information; a process the paper said could take two years.
So far, the TSA has granted 744 security clearances, according to the TSA spokesman.
The spokesman said in an e-mail that the intelligence will give employees "valuable context" when procedures are changed, and will help them do their jobs on a day-to-day basis.
"Access to relevant intelligence helps officers spot anomalies at the checkpoint - and helps them connect the potential dots," the spokesman said. "It gives these employees the opportunity to exercise discretion based on their awareness of tactics and threats in the transportation environment and gives context to things they see every day which may otherwise not appear unusual."
