TSA Head Defends Controversial Security Measures

The head of the Transportation and Security Administration defended the use of airport body scanners Wednesday amid privacy concerns posed by members from both sides of the aisle.

“We have protections in place to ensure that we respect their privacy of travelers,” TSA Administrator John Pistole said before a hearing with the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. 

Pistole added that the machines, which he cast as a critical security tool, are not capable of storing images after a subject goes through them and that passengers who opt-out of the scan can have a pat-down in private.

The administrator also highlighted a number of studies that have determined the radiation emitted from the scanners pose no safety concerns.

While most Senators at Wednesday’s hearing acknowledged that the TSA has been effective, they nevertheless urged the administrator to consider more acceptable methods, both in passenger screening and beyond.

“We’ve got to have intelligence gathering that should be part of [your] cooperation or direct control,” Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas.) said. “There has to be a way that you can figure out how to do what’s necessary.”

Pistole’s appearance before the Senate comes amid mounting criticism from privacy groups and the public decrying both the scans and pat-downs.