Air Marshal Association Renews Push to Separate from TSA
Turbulence hits the relationship between the Federal Air Marshals Service (FAMS) and its parent agency, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
A top professional association representing air marshals leader told a House subcommittee that FAMS should be removed from TSA and housed under a different agency, as air marshals are overworked, quitting at alarming rates, and that the culture of TSA is just not the right fit for law enforcement.
Air Marshal Association President and Founder John Casaretti told lawmakers on the Transportation and Maritime Security Subcommittee that passenger screening is more regulatory than law enforcement related and that marshals want to do more law enforcement related work.
“I think we need to be out of the bureaucratic agency we find ourselves in to just be an arm of that, and we need to be released to do the law enforcement work we all signed up to do,” Casaretti said.
Casaretti noted that TSA needs to use more data and intelligence on when to place marshals on flights to avoid burning out agents, who often have to work 20-hour shifts. That would also include giving air marshals information on why they’re on a specific aircraft.
As for where FAMS should be housed, Casaretti noted it’s up to Congress but floated the Department of Transportation (DOT) or elsewhere in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
TSA did not testify the hearing but rejected calls to relocate the air marshals.
"Being positioned within TSA strengthens the Federal Air Marshal Service to best accomplish our evolving security mission within the transportation sector,” said a TSA spokesperson.
Also testifying was Government Accountability Office (GAO) Director for Homeland Security and Justice Tina Won Sherman, who told lawmakers that TSA still does not have a solid understanding of the impact of the air marshals’ work.
“It’s been challenging and difficult to understand FAMS’ and air marshals’ ability to be effective as an aviation security countermeasure,” said Sherman.
While members of the panel sympathized with the plight of the air marshals, it’s unclear whether they’ll take any action toward moving the agency or addressing workforce concerns raised by the Air Marshal Association. Congress held a similar hearing on these issues in 2021.