Ethics in the TSA – Smurfing?

If we wanted to pick just one example of a governmental agency that is badly in need of ethical training, it would be the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). That’s the agency that most travelers love to hate.  Ethics in the TSA may be by some considered an oxymoron.

It is a given that TSA ineptitude is leading to longer lines at virtually every airport in the nation. When “they” tell us to leave plenty of time when traveling most anywhere, the powers that be at TSA are not kidding. More than 15 years after the tragedy of 9/11, the technology required to screen travelers has not really improved. It takes us longer to go through the lines and the treatment of travelers has become more intrusive and more ineffective.  Many question if there are ethics in the TSA.

However, internally TSA is being plagued with higher levels of dissatisfaction, reports of harassment, bullying, retaliation and employee turnover to the rate of 10 percent annually. Naturally, almost predictably, the Democrats are blaming the Republicans for TSA’s flaws; this is what politicians do when they realize Congress is hovering near a 12% approval rating and they are part of the problem.

Now ethics in the TSA is facing a new charge and it is called Smurfing.

March of the Smurfs

Assistant Administrator for the Office of Security Operations of TSA, Kelly Hoggan, is a “Smurf.” It is an interesting term that is used when an ineffective executive, who know way in heck should get a bonus, gets a bonus in small installments so that it is hidden from public view.  A clear example of how ethics in the TSA and other agencies are applied or avoided.

It is here that TSA goes from incompetent to unethical.

The media and public-at-large is all too aware of the ineptitude of TSA. Our politicians, by the way, often travel by private jet to the tune of millions of dollars annually so they may complain about this case of smurfing, but not because they are ever really inconvenienced.

Instead of giving Kelly Hoggan the $90,000 outright (the bonus he was promised), they are sneaking him nine, $10,000 payments in an attempt to avoid scrutiny. They are behaving like the child who sneaks a little of something at a time believing that no one will notice that it is missing. In the overall scheme of things (TSA’s 2017 budget approaches $8 billion) the $90,000 isn’t much, but it does signal a disturbing, if not callous disregard for the millions of travelers being inconvenienced every week of the year.  Here’s an example of ethics in the TSA.

While it is terribly easy to use the standard line of thought in regard to TSA of, “imagine where we would be without these people,” the truth is that when put to the test, the people and technology of TSA fail. Both weapons and explosives have made it past screening without difficulty. Do I blame the personnel alone? No, I don’t. However, I do blame a system-wide arrogance where poor ethics are in place that permit bonuses in the light of a failed agency, abuse of employees and travelers and a system that casts doubt on whether we are any safer now than more than 15 years ago to that tragic day in September.

What rigorous ethical training at TSA could accomplish is a shifted mindset in the way travelers are treated, fellow employees are respected and technology is improved. I am not so much “outraged” by the fact that the leader of the security screeners is receiving the bonus, as the manner in which they tried to get away with it.  It’s not the rank and file that are really in question, but ethics in the TSA start from the top and something is fishy.

Of course, TSA is one small agency in a massive government bureaucracy that defies comprehension. It is impossible to calculate the amount of waste, fraud and hidden bonuses and “perks” that have been allowed to permeate the system. The key to making our government more effective is not more programs, but more ethics.

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