President Bush may have allocated $26.7 billion to the Department of Homeland Security in his budget, but a proposed $500 million decrease in TSA funding has airport officials worried. Transportation Department Inspector General Kenneth Mead told the Senate Commerce Committee's aviation panel that it may cost more than $5 billion just to finish the work that began with the installation of baggage scanning equipment.
Because many of the inspection devices deployed in airport span a large amount of space, airport officials have struggled to find a place to put the machines. In some cases, dramatic renovations are needed to remedy the makeshift arrangements for the machines.
Last year, Congress allotted $738 million for the renovations. Now, there is just $350 left, which the airports would have to make do with, according to Bush's budget. "I'm not sure you're ever going to get that kind of dough from Congress," subcommittee chairman Trent Lott (R-Miss.) said about the $5 billion request.
|
