Say what you want about the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), but it had a successful year in the face of record travel.
That includes its highest retention and lowest attrition in more than 20 years.
The sometimes-maligned government agency was also able to use innovative technologies to upgrade security at the nation’s airports.
“Last year, we reached a historic milestone with the highest passenger volumes and the largest screening workforce in the agency’s history – an achievement that reflects the dedication, resilience and vigilance of our people across the agency,” said TSA Administrator David Pekoske.
“In the face of record travel volumes and evolving threats to transportation, our workforce has risen to every challenge by remaining agile with unwavering professionalism, ensuring the safety of the traveling public and security of our transportation systems," he said.
"I am immensely proud of their commitment to our mission, and the incredible support we continue to receive in our partnerships across government and the travel industry. We look forward to continuing this progress with more technology enhancements and better policies and procedures to increase security effectiveness, efficiency and the customer experience in 2025.”
TSA has had to battle cybersecurity, among other things, as Washington's Seattle-Tacoma International Airport was allegedly shut down by cybercriminals.
TSA's 2024 accomplishments include:
- Screened 904 million passengers, a more than five percent increase from 2023 and an increase of 17 percent from 2022. Screened 494 million checked bags and over 2 billion carry-on items. TSA set an agency record on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, the agency’s busiest holiday travel period on record, screening 3.1 million people
- Prevented 6,678 firearms from getting into the secure areas of airports and onboard aircraft
- Trained and deployed more than 100 new explosives detection canine teams, joining more than 1,100 canine teams. Deployed canine teams to national security events such as Super Bowl LVII, Formula 1 Las Vegas and the Kentucky Derby
- Decreased overall workforce attrition by 6.7 percent from 2022 to 2024. Screening workforce attrition decreased 7.3 percent from 2022 to 2024
- Hired over 8,760 new Transportation Security Officers and Security Support Assistants across the country. The TSA screening workforce is the largest it’s ever been
- Reached a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the American Federation of Government Employees. The agreement provides enhanced shift trade options for TSOs, increases uniform allowances and adds parental bereavement and weather and safety leave.
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