ABSTRACT
In the spring and early summer of 2004, nearly three years after the 9/11 attacks, many policymakers seemed to be growing increasingly frustrated with what they perceived as the slow pace at which aviation security improvements mandated in legislation were being implemented. There was also growing concern among some lawmakers that the TSA lacked a clear direction and strategy for fulfi lling its duties to identify and implement transportation security needs. Various threats, incidents, and gaffes related to screening operations concerned some that signifi cant vulnerabilities may still exist in the aviation security system, which was proving costly to operate. Policymakers in Washington wanted to see demonstrable improvements from the TSA. They also eagerly awaited the release of the 9/11 Commission’s fi ndings and its recommendations for improving aviation security with the hopes of turning these recommendations into actionable items that could be drafted into legislation for Congress to consider.
