TSA Announces Several Screening Changes for Children

By Linda Ripoll

In the past several months, there have been public attacks against the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) regarding inappropriate pat downs of children. Several parents have videoed these airport security pat downs and the affects they have on their child/children which has forced the TSA to take a closer look at their current screening procedures involving children. It was announced today that the TSA will modify the current pat down process for children by making it quicker and less invasive. According to a recent article on AJC.com, the TSA has no plans to eliminate pat downs for children altogether:

“Terrorists in other countries have used children as young as 10 years old as suicide bombers, Pistole (head of the TSA) said, although that hasn't happened in the U.S. "We need to use common sense," he told lawmakers.”

The modified version of the pat down will be rolling out across the US throughout the remainder of the year. There are some additional changes that will be announced in the near future.