Legal Definitions - Transportation Security Administration

The Transportation Security Administration is a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Its primary mission is to safeguard the nation's transportation systems, ensuring the security and safety of passengers, cargo, and infrastructure across various modes, including air, rail, mass transit, and highways.

Here are some examples of how the Transportation Security Administration's role applies:

• Airport Security Checkpoints: Before boarding a commercial flight, a traveler places their carry-on luggage onto a conveyor belt for X-ray screening and then proceeds through a body scanner. A Transportation Security Administration officer then reviews the X-ray images and may conduct a physical search of the bag if an anomaly is detected.

  This illustrates the agency's most visible function: directly implementing security protocols at airports to prevent dangerous items from being carried onto aircraft, thereby securing air transportation.

• Rail and Mass Transit Inspections: At a major metropolitan train station, Transportation Security Administration officers, often working with local transit police, might conduct random security sweeps using explosive detection K9 units or perform unannounced bag inspections on passengers boarding commuter trains.

  This demonstrates the agency's broader mandate to enhance security beyond airports, showing their efforts to deter threats and ensure passenger safety within the nation's rail and mass transit systems.

• Port and Maritime Security Assessments: The Transportation Security Administration collaborates with port authorities and the U.S. Coast Guard to conduct comprehensive security assessments at a busy commercial seaport. They review existing security plans, evaluate access controls for vessels and facilities, and provide recommendations to mitigate potential vulnerabilities for cargo and passenger operations.

  This highlights the agency's involvement in securing water transportation infrastructure, working with other federal and local entities to protect critical maritime assets and ensure the safe movement of goods and people through ports.