Security Lax at Newark Airport: TSA Managers

Transportation Security Administration managers at Newark Liberty International Airport say security has "slowly diminished'' over the years.

That was one of the conclusions laid out in a performance analysis obtained by The Star-Ledger of Newark that was circulated during two meetings led by TSA Area Director Jim Blair on Thursday.

The newspaper reports Newark-based managers acknowledged a series of embarrassing lapses "produced a lack of faith in our ability to provide world class security'' in travelers' minds.     

The report said "understaffing, complacency and lack of focus,'' along with lack of direction, poor communication and checkpoint design contributed to the decline.     

The managers proposed changes in training and accelerating hiring to boost staff to handle labor-intensive full body scanners that were installed last fall.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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