TSA Fans Out in Florida, Puerto Rico

March 13, 2007— -- The Transportation Security Administration announced today what it called the first in a series of security "surges" aimed at screening airport employees.

The agency's announcement followed the deployment of 160 TSA personnel to five airports -- four in Florida and one in Puerto Rico. The move follows an incident last week in which two Comair employees allegedly were able to smuggle 13 handguns and one assault rifle on a flight from Orlando to San Juan.

TSA will focus the effort on employees who work in secure parts of the airport.

Below is a breakdown of the security surge details:

TSA officials said that this the deployment is a precursor to additional, unannounced operations in other airports in coming weeks and months.

"Every employee should have a reasonable expectation that they could be screened at any time," said TSA administrator Kip Hawley, "at any access point within the footprint of the airport."

In addition to the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the surge will target Florida airports in Orlando, Tampa, Miami and Fort Lauderdale.

Last week, U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey, D-N.Y., introduced legislation to address what she sees as a "gaping hole" in airport security.

Her bill would require airports to screen all workers with "access to secure and sterile areas under the same standards that apply to passengers."

Lowey said the TSA response was simply inadequate.

"A temporary surge is not a solution to this long-term security gap, and nothing less than 100 percent screening of workers at all airports will close this loophole for good," she said.