TSA remains largely unchanged during DHS reorganization

TSA remains largely unchanged during DHS reorganization
New centralized policy office could benefit GA

Michael Chertoff

Despite rumors that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) might be dismantled during the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reorganization, the administration appears to be intact after DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff's reorganization announcement on Wednesday. Chertoff will eliminate the undersecretary of transportation security position, the TSA director will report directly to the DHS secretary, and the Federal Air Marshal Service will fall under the TSA instead of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The reorganization creates three lines of business: intelligence, operations, and policy. A new centralized policy office will bring together the Office of International Affairs, Homeland Security Advisory Council, Office of the Private Sector Liaison, Office of Immigrations Statistics, and the Senior Asylum Officer - and that could be a plus for general aviation.

"Bringing all of those decision makers together could make it easier for AOPA to build positive working relationships with key officials," said Andy Cebula, AOPA senior vice president of government and technical affairs "And that could make it easier for us to talk to them about GA security issues."

July 13, 2005