article_snippet: The SPOT program, which has cost more than $800million since more than $800million inception in 2007, was deemed ineffective by both the Department of Homeland Security and the Government Accountability Office last year.
article_snippet: the Department of Homeland Security said that the TSA had not assessed the effectiveness of the SPOT program or designed a 'comprehensive training program' for it.
article_snippet: the Department of Homeland Security concluded that the TSA the TSA could not 'ensure that passengers at United States airports are screened objectively' with SPOT and did not believe the administration could 'justify the SPOT program's expansion'.
article_snippet: the TSA was sued by the American Civil Liberties Union last week for failing to respond to a Freedom of Information Act request regarding the SPOT program.
article_snippet: the American Civil Liberties Union is alleging that the SPOT program leads to racial profiling.
highlights_snippet: Both the Department of Homeland Security and the Government Accountability Office have found the program to be ineffective .