TSA screening holes could let in ISIS terrorists: GAO report

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The ABC7 I-Team reports that congressional investigators have found widespread problems in the way the Transportation Security Administration keeps us safe from terrorists.

This chilling report couldn't come at a worse time for the airlines and aviation security. Even as federal law enforcement warns of ISIS terrorists with American passports, a new report suggests western jihadists could slip onto airplanes because of holes in TSA security. The Government Accounting Office hits two basic TSA functions: passenger screening and the terrorist watch list.

Since 9/11 at O'Hare, Midway and other U.S. airports, there has been a labyrinth of security that passengers must walk through to prevent bombs, guns and other weapons from getting on board commercial aircraft.

Behind the scenes, the TSA operates a program called "Secure Flight Passenger Data" aimed at matching passenger names with those on the no-fly terrorist watch list.

There are serious glitches with both basic TSA programs, according to an investigation by the GAO. They include: TSA problems spotting fake ID's and boarding passes and other screening errors; the "secure flight" program has flaws matching passenger names with known jihadists; the report criticizes TSA's procedures to evaluate these problems and that TSA needs advanced technology. A TSA official was on the hot seat Thursday in Washington.

"How is TSA addressing this problem of fraudulent IDs and boarding passes?" said Rep. Richard Hudson, R-North Carolina.

"TSA is making better progress with boarding pass issues than issues of potential fraudulent ID's, I would say. As far as confirming that the Id that the individual is using is genuine, that is still the responsibility of the travel document checker at this point. TSA has awarded a contract for the development of credential authentication and tech but it was just awarded in April and I believe it's still in the concept stage so that tech support is still quite a ways out," said Jennifer Grover, Transportation Safety Administration.

During that hearing on Capitol Hill there was new-found urgency to these airport security issues because of what is happening overseas with ISIS terrorists. Committee members agree there is a delicate balancing act underway between airline safety and civil liberties, but say this country needs to be protected from extremists with western passports who have joined the fight in Iraq or Syria.