Bipartisan request by Thune seeks enrollment details from TSA on PreCheck program

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-SD) is checking on the future of the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA’s) PreCheck program and the agency’s progress toward expanding secure enrollment.

“We recognize your strong commitment to expanding PreCheck given how essential the program is to improving aviation security and the efficiency of screening checkpoints,” wrote Sen. Thune and U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) in a Jan. 31 letter sent to TSA Administrator David Pekoske.

“However, we are concerned with TSA’s implementation of the TSA Modernization Act’s language aimed at expanding enrollment opportunities in areas which — due to geographical or other circumstances — lack accessible enrollment options,” the senators wrote.

Sen. Thune and his colleague are concerned that entities operating under other transaction authority (OTA) agreements are instead duplicating services already provided under the Universal Enrollment Services program, according to their letter.

The lawmakers are also worried about reports of “serious security breaches” by CLEAR Secure Inc., an American technology company that operates biometric travel document verification systems at some major airports and stadiums.

Sen. Thune and Sen. Peters requested more information regarding how TSA is ensuring that CLEAR and other OTA providers maintain high security standards before executing OTA agreements with TSA. 

“The enrollment services provided through the two existing OTA agreements still leave rural communities and other underserved areas without an accessible enrollment option, in contravention of the intent of the TSA Modernization Act,” wrote the senators. “It is crucial that other OTA agreements reached by TSA fully reflect congressional intent to expand PreCheck enrollment opportunities in new communities, particularly those in rural areas, through the use of innovative technologies and methods.”

They requested that Pekoske respond in writing to several questions within 30 days, including what criteria TSA uses to review and approve proposed new enrollment centers under OTA agreements, and if TSA has considered other methods, including new technology, to expand enrollment in PreCheck, particularly to rural and other underserved areas, using OTA agreements, among others.