Guarding Subways, Rail From Terror Is Complex, Senators Told
- TSA chief testifies amid calls for greater transit emphasis
- Agency devotes bulk of its manpower and budget to aviation
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Protecting U.S. subways, railroads and roadways from terrorism is a topic that’s “been on our minds for a long time” because the systems are open to the public and spread out across the country, the U.S. transportation security chief told senators Wednesday.
The Transportation Security Administration devotes more than three-quarters of its budget and 93 percent of its roughly 50,000 employees to aviation. It relies mainly on voluntary actions by local authorities as it tries to prevent attacks like the ones that struck Brussels on March 22, Administrator Peter Neffenger said.