Folks, Congressman Moskowitz hit the nail squarely on the head. Senator Mike Lee's absurd bill to abolish the TSA is so dangerously misguided that it's difficult to find the words. Suggesting that only terrorists would support such a measure isn't hyperbole; it's a stark statement of fact.
Let's remember why the TSA exists in the first place. The horrific attacks of September 11, 2001, were a direct result of vulnerabilities in our aviation security. Nearly 3,000 innocent people were murdered. The TSA was created in direct response to this tragedy to ensure the safety of air travel and prevent future attacks.
Since its inception, the TSA has been instrumental in preventing numerous threats to our aviation system. According to the TSA itself, its officers screen over 2 million passengers every day at nearly 440 airports nationwide. They have stopped countless prohibited items, including firearms and explosives, from being brought onto aircraft. Just last year, in 2024, TSA officers nationwide discovered a record 6,737 firearms at airport security checkpoints. This is a tangible demonstration of the threats that still exist and the critical role the TSA plays in mitigating them.
Lee's proposal to "privatize all commercial airport security to increase cost-efficiency and security" is laughably naive and demonstrably false. Security is not something we can afford to cut corners on for the sake of a few dollars. Privatization would lead to a fragmented and potentially less accountable system, creating new vulnerabilities that our enemies would undoubtedly exploit. The primary focus of private companies is profit, not necessarily the highest level of security.
Furthermore, the idea that abolishing a federal agency with nearly 65,000 trained security professionals would somehow increase security is utterly nonsensical. This isn't about cost-efficiency; it's about dismantling a critical layer of defense that protects American lives.
Senator Lee and his ilk are playing a dangerous game. Their ideological obsession with shrinking government is blinding them to the very real threats we face. We cannot afford to go back to a pre-9/11 world where airport security was a patchwork of inconsistent and easily exploitable systems.
We must stand firm against this reckless legislation and make it clear that the safety and security of the American people are non-negotiable. Abolishing the TSA is not just a bad idea; it's a direct threat to our national security and a slap in the face to the victims of terrorism. We will not let them endanger our skies.
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