Today, Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ) introduced the Aviation Risk Mitigation and Security (ARMS) Act, which would require the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to report the results of covert testing conducted at American airports.

In 2015, the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Office of Inspector General discovered that TSA officers using Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) failed to detect hidden threat items 96% of the time.

Following these findings, the TSA stopped collecting and submitting data on these tests, choosing instead to classify the information. This lack of transparency leaves significant gaps in our security, especially given that U.S. airports still rely on AIT to screen passengers and luggage.

In order to ensure the TSA has the necessary tools to identify and neutralize threats, Congress must have access to the latest data.

“I’m proud to introduce legislation requiring the TSA to provide Congress with updated covert testing data. In light of the legitimate security risks outlined in a recent DHS advisory bulletin, we cannot afford to remain in the dark about where the system is failing,” said Rep. Crane. “The ARMS Act would strengthen congressional oversight and lay the groundwork for meaningful solutions. We have a duty to mitigate the TSA’s longstanding deficiencies, and I strongly urge my colleagues to support this timely measure.”