Tracking of passes, uniforms lax, TSA told

WASHINGTON, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- The agency overseeing security at U.S. airports failed to track security passes of former employees, creating vulnerabilities, a federal report says.

The report issued by the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General Richard Skinner said the Transportation Security Administration didn't have centralized controls over the secure passes issued to some of its employees, USA Today reported Monday.

Homeland Security investigators reported finding numerous instances in which ex-employees kept their passes and uniforms after they left TSA, opening a window of opportunity for terrorists.

People using improper badges, IDs or uniforms "could significantly increase an airport's vulnerability to unauthorized access and, potentially, a wide variety of terrorist and criminal acts," the report said.

TSA chief Kip Hawley says the agency agrees with most of the inspector general's findings and has begun implementing recommendations such as tightening oversight of security passes, requiring collection of passes from those who leave and improving employee uniform tracking.

"While we believe the ... report overstates deficiencies, as well as any potential associated security risk, we share the interest in improving our processes," Hawley told USA Today.