Recently, however, new initiatives to expand the role of TSA personnel beyond traditional physical screening of passengers and their belongings, as well as initiatives to improve screening efficiency and effectiveness through the deployment of new technologies, have been implemented and are being tested. However, policymakers and aviation security planners have not yet agreed upon a clear strategy and well-defined plan for evolving airline passenger screening functions to incorporate new technologies, capabilities, and procedures to more effectively and efficiently detect explosives, weapons, and other threat objects as well as individuals who may pose a threat to aviation security. Over the next several years, the TSA will likely face continuing challenges to address projected growth in passenger airline travel while maintaining and improving upon the efficiency and effectiveness of passenger and baggage screening operations. Policy Issues for Airport Passenger Screening

The TSA faces a number of ongoing challenges to maintain and improve upon the effectiveness and efficiency of passenger screening functions. These challenges include:
Addressing projected airline passenger traffic growth and its potential impacts on screening operations; Optimizing screening efficiency and throughput and minimizing passenger wait times; Identifying and addressing potential airport space constraints for screening checkpoints and equipment; Improving the capability to detect explosives at passenger checkpoints as recommended by the 9/11 Commission and called for in legislation; Developing strategic plans for addressing identified technology and human factors needs related to passenger screening; and Defining funding requirements to implement these strategic plans. Provisions in P.L. The fund provided $250 million in passenger security fees for the acquisition and deployment of technologies to improve the detection of explosives at passenger screening checkpoints in FY2008. 111-5 ) specifies an additional $1 billion for aviation security, designated for the procurement and installation of checkpoint explosives detection equipment and checked baggage explosives detection systems.
Over the next several years, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will likely face continuing challenges to address projected growth in passenger airline travel while maintaining and improving upon the efficiency and effectiveness of passenger screening operations. New initiatives to expand the role of TSA personnel beyond screening operations, as well as initiatives to improve screening efficiency and effectiveness through the deployment of new technologies, will likely require additional investment. In addition to annual appropriations of $250 million in FY2008 and FY2009, a portion of the $1 billion identified for aviation security in the stimulus measure (P.L. 111-5) has been designated for acquiring and deploying technologies to screen passengers for explosives.
However, policymakers and aviation security planners have not yet agreed upon a well-defined strategy and plan for evolving airline passenger and baggage screening functions to incorporate new technologies, capabilities, and procedures to more effectively and efficiently detect potential threats to aviation security.
Ongoing challenges to maintaining and improving upon screening functions include: addressing the potential impacts of projected airline passenger traffic growth on screening operations; optimizing screening efficiency and minimizing passenger wait times; addressing potential airport space constraints for screening checkpoints and equipment; improving the capability to detect explosives at passenger checkpoints; optimizing inline explosives detection systems for checked baggage; developing strategic plans for addressing screening technology and human factors needs; and defining the funding requirements to implement these strategic plans.
A number of initiatives related to passenger and baggage screening are currently being evaluated by the TSA. These include tests of new passenger checkpoint layouts and field testing of next-generation checkpoint technologies for detecting explosives, including explosives chemical trace detection devices, whole body imaging systems, and advanced technology (AT) X-ray capabilities.