Some federal air marshals will be moved to the back of the plane beginning later this month, ABC News reported, citing sources who have been briefed on the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) new plans.
Air marshals have historically been assigned seats toward the front of planes to protect the cockpit but that will change starting December 28 during the busy holiday travel period.
TSA declined to discuss specifics but believes that placing the undercover agents throughout the cabin will allow them to keep a closer eye on passengers who might pose a risk before an attack occurs.
TSA spokeswoman Jenny Burke told ABC News that air marshals "continue to add a valuable layer of security to TSA's overall effort to protect the entire global aviation system."
"In an effort to address evolving threats to aviation security, TSA continues to optimize in-flight security efforts; training and tactics are routinely reviewed and updated based upon intelligence," she added. "TSA continues to enhance its ability to utilize intelligence in order to best deploy FAMs worldwide to detect, deter and defeat any potential hostile acts onboard commercial U.S. aircraft."
However, some, including federal air marshals, are opposed to the new policy.
"The TSA wants to change the way operations are carried out, and the men and women of the Federal Air Marshal Service do not support these changes," Brian Borek, representative of the air marshals to the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, told ABC News. "The TSA, riddled with their own organizational issues, should allow the air marshals to do what they have continued to do best-fly operationally sound missions to protect the integrity of the aircraft, its crew and passengers in the manner that they have been training and perfecting for the last 17 years."
"Changing deployment methodologies and the manner in which we conduct business is absolutely unnecessary and does not pass the common-sense test-especially during the busiest travel season of the year," Borek added. "The men and women who perform these vital worldwide national security missions do not support and vehemently disagree with the proposed changes."
The concerns among those opposed are that TSA made the changes without input from air marshals and that agents could be blocked from reaching the front of the aircraft in the event of an emergency or attempted cockpit breach.
"Changes to security routines on planes and at airports are serious and should not be enacted haphazardly," said John Cohen, a former acting undersecretary of the Department of Homeland Security via ABC News. "And there is clearly a perception that is what is going on here."
Earlier this month, TSA said it had reduced its controversial "Quiet Skies" surveillance program that saw air marshals spy on travelers and document minor movements or behaviors such as fidgeting in the airport or using the bathroom during a flight.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
