TSA will pilot new airport employee screening procedures at seven airports across the country starting in May 2008. All employees who work in the seven selected airports will be subject to the new procedures.

Congress allocated up to $15 million for the pilots – required under the Omnibus Appropriations Act passed in January 2008. The legislation mandates 100 percent employee screening be evaluated at three airports and alternative employee screening at four other airports – up to 90 days at each location.

TSA worked with airport industry stakeholder groups to develop the pilots and the criteria for selecting participating airports. More than 100 airports applied to participate. The selected airports are Boston's Logan International, Denver International, Jacksonville (Fla.) International, Kansas City (Mo.) International, Eugene (Ore.), Southwest Oregon Regional (North Bend, Ore.), and Craven Regional (New Bern, N.C.).

TSA is required to report to Congress before Sept. 1, 2008, on the cost and effectiveness of the pilot programs at each airport. Using multiple screening methods will help TSA determine the most effective airport-employee security screening system and the operational impact, if any, these systems have on participating airports. After the pilots are evaluated, TSA, working with our partners, will make a determination about program implementation.