Lawmakers of the House’s Transportation Security Committee warned on Tuesday that commercial airline flights remain a “major target for terrorism” and that dangerous “gaps in security” screenings could lead to a terrorist attack. However, the director of TSA’s Office of Global Strategies, Joseph Terrell, offered few answers.   The administration official was unable to provide answers about how Congress can increase security, telling lawmakers in a moment of candor, “Perhaps I need some time to think about it and get back to you.” The attack on the Russian Metrojet airliner represents “a shift in the threat against aviation” posed by the terror group, according to Rep. John Katko (R., N.Y.)

“There remain gaps in security that needs to be addressed,” he said, citing “serious lapses in security vetting among aviation workers with access to secure and sensitive areas of airports.”

“I remain very concerned with the at the overall state of airport access controls.” Katko said, claiming that officials are “ignoring open back doors at airports.”

Rep. Kathleen Rice (D., N.Y.) also expressed concern about the threat posed to commercial airliners, noting, “the threat of terrorist attacks is very real and the risk is very high right now.”

“Commercial flights are still a major target for terrorism,” she added. “We cannot afford to get comfortable or complacent right now. … There are terrorist groups and radical individuals targeting aviation.”

However, Terrell, a top official at the TSA, had little to provide in the way of answers and recommendations on how to mitigate the threat.

More information available on the hearing at this link: http://freebeacon.com/national-security/tsa-official-stumped-on-how-to-improve-airport-security/

Source: Washington Free Beacon.