The Transportation Security Administration Agency - Research Paper Example

The History of the Transportation Security Agency Introduction The transportation Security Administration agency is a federal department agency for security in U.S. This agency basically has the authority for security of public travelling in the U.S. This agency plays a very vital role over U.S. Homeland Security since 2001. This agency was founded by Don Young and Ernest Hollings, the agency since then has been a part of U.S. security services in a very prominent way and deals with all means of transport security in the entire United States. After the black day September 11, 2001 attacks, this agency has been recognized for its distinct role, support and maintaining law and order in the U.S. This research paper deals with the role of the organization, reason for its foundation, change since the day it was incepted and the types of law enforcement instructions. Analysis Role of the Organizational Structure The TSA has a very transparent and significant organizational structure. It has a vertical structure which consists of 21 members including the chief of staff. Each position in the TSA has a significant responsibility. Division of positions in a hierarchical manner allows the organization to overcome the security challenges and makes decision making strong and acceptable for everyone. The reason this agency implemented this kind of structure is solely because it does not cause any discrimination between the members regarding any important strategic decision making as all decisions are needed to be approved by the administrator. TSA implementing a vertical hierarchical structure reduced the external challenges as well. Each and every policy introduced needs permission of the director and proper adherence to policies and governance is maintained by the administrator. The following chart shows the organizational structure in a very appropriate way. (TSA, 2014) The organizational structure maintains not only law and order in place or adherence to policies but also helps to maintain integrity and liberty. By application of this kind of structure the agency has better co-ordinance with citizens and work culture in the organization gives optimum output. TSA has been successful in providing homeland security across U.S. because of its strong administration and so it can be stated the organizational structure plays a very important role in national defence and safety. Date of Foundation The TSA was formed as a wing of the Aviation and Transportation Security Act in the year 2001. It was signed into law by George W. Bush the president of U.S. on 11/19/2001. Later it was moved to Department of Homeland Security on 03/09/2003. Reason behind Foundation The TSA was founded in the year 2001, as a result of a very adverse incident that occurred in the same year by a group of unsocial elements. Prior to 09/11/2001, the law and order were in place but there was a loop hole in the transport security administration. After the demolish destruction of 09/11/2001 it was seen that the security system in the aviation industry was handled by private agencies for a single airline or a group of airlines. The national security was at a stake after such incident. The U.S. government then created TSA as a part of Aviation and Transport Security. It is a federal body that dealt with security of aviation industry for 2 years. Later on this agency moved to Department of Homeland Security. Now it covers almost all kind of transportations including highways, railroads, buses, pipelines, ports and mass transit systems. The TSA is responsible for screening baggage and passengers for airports more than 450 in the U.S. The attacks that happened in year 2001 was a reason for the foundation of the agency apart from that there was another reason as well. The U.S. was suffering from lack of distinct department who can be held responsible for any kind of security breach. The private agencies were beyond reach of general public so the decision of implementation of a federal body in all types of transportation systems has eased the work method and it has ensured the national security and public safety. It was required by government to create a department who can be responsible for homeland security in various ways and TSA has been working well by keeping the vision of public security. Founder of TSA The founder of TSA is Don Young in United States House of Representative and by a member of the Senate Ernest Hollings and the idea was put into law by the 107th U.S. Congress. In addition to this, it was signed by George W. Bush the president of United States on 19th November, 2001. Change since Inception The TSA was created as a part of the Aviation security in the year 2001. This agency was basically created for strong security set-up and hold responsibility. Since then the agency has changed a lot. The agency is not only limited to the aviation but also has a responsibility towards other mode of transportations. TSA is now a part of homeland security apart from aviation security. In the year 2003 the agency was moved to the department of homeland security. As this agency is unlike other private agencies it is a federal department of the U.S. and it is way beyond its organizational structure and ethical values than other agencies so it was possible for this agency to sustain with optimum output (Berrick, 2006). TSA is almost everywhere in the United States now-a-days. TSA also plays a very important role in railways and bus services. Proper checking of person and baggage is the most important objective, apart from that public safety and safety of the baggage is responsibility for TSA. This organization has worked prosperously these years towards the safety and security of people in U.S. Not only in railways TSA is also responsible for checking of vehicles in highways and they are also responsible for proper links in pipeline services. This agency no doubt had some bad reputations regarding their strict checking procedures however they have updated their systems time to time so that people do not have to face challenges because of their strict cheeking systems. TSA is also responsible for National Explosives Detection. They have a reputation to serve quickly with use of dogs and handlers who serve as mobile team to find out any suspicious materials. TSA has changed in numerous ways since its foundation. Type of Law Enforcement Investigation The TSA as known as the national security providing agency in the U.S. mainly enforces the public security mode by providing a highly technical and methodical way of checking people and goods carried by people. It introduces new and updated mechanisms for security checking for public safety for comfort of passengers. The TSA provides security not only in the aviation industry but also deals with almost all companies conducting the mode of transport. It also deals with public safety and security for road transport, railways and ports. The TSA providers all types of safety and security equipments to its employees dealing with the National Explosives Detection Canine. The TSA had trained about 430 canine groups with about one third of it deploying to mass transit systems like parking, roadways and checkpoints along with railways and about two-third of it deployed to airport security. Airport security is the most important and significant aim to security as TSA was founded for the same. Aviation is the most important challenge for U.S. government to provide security along with integrity because the attacks of 9th September, 2011 dealt with air-attacks. This is not only one good reason the most important factor is that United States consists of more than 450 airports (TSA, 2014). Providing safety and optimum security is a challenge for TSA. Hence deploying most of the employees of TSA to the aviation is an accurate decision implemented by the members of this agency. The main type of law enforcement investigation is tracking record of passengers along with the baggage passengers carry. Not only checking the baggage is their prime motive but they also ensure public safety by checking locks attached to the baggage is their responsibility. TSA enforces Full body scanners that can help in providing a thorough check and reducing the amount of time induced in security checking (Smith, 2004). Undoubtedly this agency has provided an optimum level of law enforcement investigation methods for public security ensuring their comfort and integrity. Conclusion It is clear from the above analysis that TSA is significantly different other private agencies that are used in providing security. The first reason is that the agency is a federal organization which is regulated by a governing body which includes national council heads like the Admiral and the Administrator who are employed under the government of United States. This agency basically deals with airport security however after 2003 this agency is a part of the United States homeland security department. This agency provides security to almost all kind of transportation mediums including roadways, railways, airways, pipelines and ports. The agency was founded in the year 2001 as a result of terrorist attacks that happened in the same year. TSA from the year 2001 has been delivering security services in the entire United States very diligently and this organization is well known for its technical advancement related to security services in United States. References Berrick, C. (2006). Transportation Security Administration. New York: Diane Publishing. Smith, P. (2004). Ask the Pilot. New York: Penguin Books. TSA. (2014). Office of Law Enforcement. Retrieved from: < http://www.tsa.gov/about-tsa/office-law-enforcement>. TSA. (2014). Organizational Chart. Retrieved from: . Read More