ICE Barbie Kristi Noem has been accused of failing to address an internal watchdog report that identified “serious vulnerabilities” in TSA screening at American airports. The watchdog says its memo, which has “national security implications,” has gone unanswered for five months—despite the ousted Noem telling lawmakers “all of the recommendations” in the inspector general’s report had already been implemented, CBS News reports. Inspector General Joseph Cuffari addressed Noem’s claim in a March 4 memo, writing that his office has received no written or oral evidence that suggests the issues, which include questions about the consequences of a new policy permitting passengers to keep their shoes on through the screening process, have been addressed. Internal communication provided to CBS News shows “the TSA has not submitted a required response to the audit, now nearly five months after the report’s release.” Auditors tell CBS that even basic steps have yet to be taken to address the report, like issuing a formal “management decision” that determines whether TSA agrees with the findings and what corrective actions it plans to take. The vulnerabilities were discovered by the watchdog’s “red team,” which tried—and apparently succeeded, to some degree—to sneak simulated weapons and explosives past TSA agents.
via daily beast: ICE Barbie Accused of Jaw-Dropping ‘National Security’ Blunder