The House Homeland Security Committee held a hearing entitled, "America on the Global Stage: Examining Efforts to Secure and Improve the U.S. Travel System and Prepare for Significant International Events."
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NewsTranscript
00:00:00us at any point. Before we begin today's hearings, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the
00:00:04absence of a valued member of our subcommittee. We are mourning the loss of our friend and
00:00:08colleague, Congressman Turner. Sylvester's decades of dedicated public service to the
00:00:12people of Houston and his contributions to this nation and Congress will be remembered
00:00:17as part of his lasting legacy. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, especially
00:00:21his daughter and grandson, as they grieve his passing and honor his life of service.
00:00:27I also want to welcome the gentleman from Louisiana, Mr. Carter, to the subcommittee.
00:00:33Today's hearings will assess the current state of U.S. travel security and infrastructure,
00:00:37evaluating the readiness of airports, ports, and border entry points to manage large influxes of
00:00:43international travelers, while ensuring that security measures, technological advancements,
00:00:48and operational processes meet future needs. I now recognize myself for an opening statement.
00:00:54Good morning. I want to thank everyone for being here today, especially our witnesses,
00:00:58as we take a closer look at how the United States is preparing to welcome the world
00:01:02over the next few years for significant international events. Beginning this summer,
00:01:07the United States will step onto the global stage by hosting the FIFA
00:01:11Club World Cup. This tournament will feature elite professional clubs from around the world,
00:01:15such as Real Madrid, Manchester City, Inter Miami FC, my hometown team, and will take place at some
00:01:23select venues throughout the United States. This event will provide an early opportunity to stress
00:01:29test our travel systems, infrastructure, and security coordination ahead of even larger
00:01:34events on the horizon. In 2026, our country will host the FIFA World Cup, with matches played by
00:01:40national teams in cities across the nation, and I am thrilled that this includes my home city of
00:01:45Miami. At the same time, we will celebrate America's 250th anniversary in July 2026,
00:01:52followed by the Summer Olympics and Paralympics in Los Angeles in 2028. When I was mayor of Miami
00:01:58Dade County, I witnessed firsthand just how much planning and hard work goes into ensuring these
00:02:04major events run smoothly. As a member of Congress, I intend to do all I can to make
00:02:08sure that these international events are safe for millions of Americans and those traveling here
00:02:13who are planning on attending. These events are more than just celebrations or competitions.
00:02:19They are major opportunities to show the world what America stands for and what we can achieve.
00:02:25If we get this right, the payoff could be enormous. According to the U.S. Travel Association,
00:02:29we could generate nearly $95 billion in economic activity and welcome over 40 million international
00:02:35visitors. That will only happen if we plan ahead, invest wisely, and make sure that the
00:02:40travel experience in the United States is smooth, modern, and secure. Right now, we have work to do.
00:02:48A recent report from the United States Travel Association made it clear,
00:02:53makes it clear, that while the United States remains one of the top destinations for international
00:02:58travelers, we now rank last among the top travel destinations when it comes to national planning
00:03:04and leadership. Long waits for visas, outdated airport technology, and staffing shortages at
00:03:11our ports of entry are slowing us down. These problems are not just frustrating, they could
00:03:16cost us jobs, investment, and global influence. This is why I support President Trump's recent
00:03:22executive order creating a White House task force focused on the 2026 World Cup. This kind
00:03:28of coordination is exactly what we need. It brings the right people to the table and sends a strong
00:03:32message that the United States is serious about being ready. I'm currently working on a bill that
00:03:38would take this step further by creating a task, a federal task force to focus on all major
00:03:44international events occurring in the United States over the next four years. That includes
00:03:48the World Cup, America's 250th, and the 2028 Olympics. We need to make sure every agency
00:03:55involved is working together and that our policies and resources are aligned. We also need to think
00:04:01about security. Big crowds and high-profile venues make these big events targets. That includes
00:04:09threats from drones, which are becoming more common around stadiums and public gatherings. We need
00:04:14to make sure agencies like DHS, TSA, and state and local law enforcement have the tools and coordination
00:04:21they need to stop these threats in the planning stage long before they can cause harm. We should
00:04:27take this opportunity to make long-needed reforms to our travel system. We need to make the system
00:04:32more thorough and effective while still being welcoming to legitimate travelers. That means
00:04:38better technology at airports, shorter visa wait times, and making sure that we have enough
00:04:43officers at our ports of entry. The world will be watching. With the right vision and coordination,
00:04:50the United States can set the global standard, not just for security but for innovation,
00:04:55hospitality, and safety. I look forward to hearing from our witnesses about how we turn
00:05:01that vision into reality. Now I recognize the ranking member, the gentlewoman from New Jersey,
00:05:07Ms. McIver, for her opening statements. Good morning and thank you to our witnesses for
00:05:12joining us today and thank you to Chairman Jimenez for holding today's hearing. I, too,
00:05:17want to join in on just expressing our condolences and sympathy to Rep. Turner's family who passed
00:05:25away who was a part of this committee as we continue to pray and keep his family and his
00:05:30friends and his close colleagues in our thoughts. So definitely join us in that and sending well
00:05:36wishes to his family. The travel and tourism industry is a vital part of the U.S. economy.
00:05:43In November 2021, President Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law,
00:05:49providing a $1.2 trillion investment in American transportation and infrastructure. In December
00:05:562022, President Biden signed an omnius spending package into law, funding pay raises and an
00:06:02expanded collective bargaining framework for TSA employees. These historic investments have helped
00:06:09spur continued growth in U.S. travel and tourism and help secure our transportation networks.
00:06:16In 2024, travel in the United States produced an economic output of $2.8 trillion and supported
00:06:24more than 15 million American jobs and record numbers of passengers traveled through TSA
00:06:30security checkpoints. To continue to grow the U.S. travel system and prepare for upcoming
00:06:36international events, any sane administration would continue to invest in our infrastructure,
00:06:43update our security technology, and support our federal workforce. Unfortunately, President Trump
00:06:50and Republicans in Congress are doing the exact opposite. Take, for example, making investments in
00:06:56cutting-edge security technology to fund new CT scanners and other equipment at TSA checkpoints
00:07:03at the necessary scale and pace. Congress must stop using passenger security fee collections
00:07:09as a slush fund and return that money to TSA. But instead, Republicans are considering increasing
00:07:16passenger security fees and using that money to help pay for tax cuts for billionaires, according
00:07:22to a document showing their reconciliation plans. Republicans want to charge airline passengers more
00:07:28and then put the money in billionaire pockets. The passenger security fee was what was created
00:07:34to help fund TSA and prevent another 9-11, but Republicans care more about giving tax cuts to
00:07:40billionaires. That's despicable. Let's turn to workforce issues. Transportation security officers
00:07:48are the backbone of our transportation security system, as they screen millions of passengers and
00:07:54pieces of luggage every day to keep our skies safe. Yet, over the past month, President Trump
00:08:02and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem have taken the first steps in dismantling the
00:08:07professional aviation security workforce we have worked so hard to build over the past two decades.
00:08:14On March 7th, Secretary Noem ended TSA's seven-year collective bargaining agreement and dismantled
00:08:21union rights in a political and illegal move to advance President Trump's union-busting agenda.
00:08:28I am glad this move is being challenged in the courts, but in the meantime, it undermines the
00:08:33TSO workforce just as it had finally stabilized after decades of high attrition. Worse yet, the
00:08:41termination of TSA's collective bargaining agreement may pave the way for Project 2025's
00:08:47goal of privatizing the agency, an effort Republicans in Congress are already trying to
00:08:53advance. Privatizing more than 400 airports and over 50,000 screening officers would throw
00:09:00the entire aviation security system into chaos and return us to the pre-9-11 model that failed
00:09:08to prevent the largest terrorist attack in U.S. history. Democrats will fight tooth and
00:09:14nail to prevent Republicans from sacrificing our national security at the altar of corporate greed.
00:09:20Unfortunately, the problems the Trump administration is creating for travel and tourism industry
00:09:26go well beyond TSA. In 2024, the International Trade Administration reported a nine percent
00:09:33increase of international visitors to the United States. Under the Biden administration, U.S.
00:09:39tourism was booming and open for business. However, in just two months since President
00:09:44Trump took office, he has managed to throw that all away by detaining tourists,
00:09:52attacking allies, and tanking the economy. The list of countries that have changed their
00:09:57advisories to warn travelers to the United States of potential risk is growing longer by the day.
00:10:03That list now includes the United Kingdom, Germany, Norway, Ireland, the Netherlands,
00:10:10Denmark, Finland, Belgium, and Canada. Canadians who visit the U.S. more than anyone are now
00:10:18canceling their trips as flight bookings from Canada have dropped by 70 percent. Since Trump
00:10:24took office, several travelers trying to enter the U.S. have been turned away or detained for days
00:10:30or weeks with little to no explanation. A French scientist scheduled to attend a conference in
00:10:35Houston was turned away reportedly because his personal device contained opinions criticizing
00:10:41Trump's research policies. A Canadian citizen was put in a jumpsuit and chains and detained for over
00:10:47two weeks as she legally went through the process to obtain a work visa. A German tourist spent more
00:10:54than six weeks in a detention center, including eight days in solidary confinement because she
00:11:00was traveling with tattooing equipment. Through these cases and others, Donald Trump is sending
00:11:06the message that visitors to the U.S. may be arrested without explanation. Trump is sending
00:11:12a message that the United States is closed for business. Trump's policies put at risk
00:11:17trillions of dollars in tourism spending and millions of American jobs. Let me be clear,
00:11:24if you aren't, even from watching the news today, Donald Trump is tanking the economy. I look
00:11:31forward to discussing with our witnesses how the dire situation will impact our national security
00:11:37and the success of upcoming high-profile events like the World Cup and the Olympics. Thank you,
00:11:43and with that, I yield back. Thank you, and I recognize the ranking member of the committee,
00:11:49the gentleman from Mississippi, Mr. Thompson. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and let me
00:11:54welcome our witnesses on the panel today. I'm glad the subcommittee is examining the
00:12:01state of U.S. travel system ahead of high-profile international events. The outlook for the World
00:12:08Cup, the Olympics, and other major events set to be hosted in the United States over the next few
00:12:15years is dire. In just a couple of short months in office, Donald Trump and his Republican lackeys
00:12:23have done tremendous damage to the U.S. travel and tourism. People visiting the United States
00:12:30can no longer be confident that they will be treated fairly by our government. Just last week,
00:12:36a renowned mixed martial arts fighter and coach trying to visit the U.S. for a seminar was detained
00:12:44upon entry, sent to a federal detention facility, and ultimately sent back to Australia,
00:12:51all without little explanation. If this is how we treat foreign athletes and coaches
00:12:58visiting the United States, one can only imagine how the World Cup and Olympics will go. This is
00:13:05just one of the many instances of the Trump administration inflicting unnecessary trauma
00:13:11upon foreign visitors. The cruelty is the point. Donald Trump apparently does not want foreign
00:13:18visitors to visit the United States, even though travel represented $2.8 trillion
00:13:25of U.S. economic output in 2023. The impact of Trump's chaotic and undefined detention
00:13:33and deportation policies is already apparent. Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland,
00:13:41Norway, Finland, Denmark, Belgium, and the Netherlands have all updated travel guidance
00:13:48for people visiting the United States to warn of potential for detention or discrimination.
00:13:56Airline bookings from Canada, which provides the most visitors to the United States by far,
00:14:02is already down 70 percent. The impacts of this loss of international travel
00:14:09will be devastating to local economies. In 2023, more than $1.3 trillion in travel spending
00:14:17contributed $89 billion in tax revenues to states and communities across the country.
00:14:23More than 15 million American workers are either directly employed or heavily supported
00:14:30by the travel industry. Some of those workers are also facing more direct assaults from the
00:14:36Trump administration. Last month, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem issued a memo
00:14:43to strip TSA employees of their union rights and rescind their existing collective bargaining
00:14:50agreement. Transportation security officers screen millions of passengers every day to protect air
00:14:58travel. For many years, the TSA workforce was plagued by low morale and high attrition.
00:15:05In 2022, President Biden signed into law an omnibus spending bill providing
00:15:12pay raises and funding an expanded collective bargaining framework for TSOs. Those measures
00:15:19have had a dramatic impact on TSA's ability to carry out its security mission,
00:15:26as attrition has dropped in half. Undoing this progress is dumb, cruel, and illegal.
00:15:33The Secretary cannot unilaterally rescind a binding legal contract. I hope the courts will
00:15:40put a stop to this negatively political madness. In the meantime, I'm proud to have reintroduced
00:15:48by bill the rights for the TSA Workforce Act, which would provide TSA workers with full collective
00:15:56bargaining rights and a fair pay under Title V of the U.S. Code. Now is the time for members of
00:16:04both parties to stand up against Donald Trump and push back against his cruel and foolish policies.
00:16:12Donald Trump is putting America last. The U.S. travel and tourism industry will be among the
00:16:18Trump administration's first casualties if we do not change course quickly. Thank you again
00:16:25to our witnesses for joining us today to discuss this critical challenge. I yield back, Mr. Chair.
00:16:32Thank you to Ranking Member. Other members of the committee are reminded that opening statements may
00:16:37be submitted for the record. I am pleased to have a distinguished panel of witnesses before us today
00:16:42on this critical topic. I ask that our witnesses please rise and raise their right hands.
00:16:50Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you will give before the Committee on Homeland Security of
00:16:55the United States House of Representatives will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but
00:16:59the truth, so help you God? Let the record reflect that the witnesses have answered in the affirmative
00:17:05and thank you and please be seated. I would now like to formally introduce our witnesses. Mr. Jeff
00:17:11Freeman is the President and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, the leading advocate for the
00:17:161.1 trillion dollar U.S. travel and hospitality industry. Mr. Freeman is a seasoned association CEO
00:17:24with a proven track record of building successful organizations that unite members'
00:17:29interests, grow members' values, increase revenue, and unlock growth opportunities.
00:17:34Prior to joining U.S. Travel, Freeman was President and CEO of the Consumer Brands Association,
00:17:40the trade association for America's 2.1 trillion dollar food, beverage, and consumer products
00:17:46industry. Mr. John Gruen is the CEO and Executive Chairman of Fordham Technologies,
00:17:53a tech company that provides artificial intelligence-enabled airspace awareness
00:17:57and counter drone solutions to defense, law enforcement, and commercial customers.
00:18:02Previously, Mr. Gruen was a corporate business development and strategy lead for Lockheed Martin.
00:18:08Prior to joining Lockheed Martin, Mr. Gruen was a Navy SEAL officer where he served in
00:18:12increasing leadership positions in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
00:18:18He is currently a Naval Reserve Captain and has commanded unmanned air systems and technology
00:18:24innovation units. Mr. John received his Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Naval
00:18:29Academy and received his Master's of Business Administration from the Haas School of Business,
00:18:34University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Everett Kelly is the National President of the American
00:18:40Federation of Government Employees, which is the largest union representing federal and D.C.
00:18:45government employees. He began his first term of service as National President in February 2020,
00:18:51was elected to another term during the 42nd National Convention in June 2022,
00:18:56and was re-elected during the 43rd National Convention in August of 2024. Dr. Kelly has
00:19:03been a member of AFG since 1981. He worked at Anniston Army Depot and retired from there after
00:19:1130 years of service. I thank each of our distinguished witnesses for being here today.
00:19:17I also would like to offer the following letter from the Airlines for America for the record
00:19:26without objection. So ordered. And I recognize Mr. Freeman for five minutes to summarize his
00:19:35statement. Mr. Freeman, you're recognized for five minutes. Thank you, Chairman Jimenez,
00:19:42Congresswoman, Ranking Member McIver, Ranking Member Thompson, Congressman Crane. I appreciate
00:19:47the opportunity to be with you today. I'm Jeff Freeman, President and CEO of the U.S. Travel
00:19:50Association, representing all aspects of the $2 trillion travel industry, airlines, airports,
00:19:58theme parks, hotels, destinations from coast to coast. And I want to thank you at the outset for
00:20:03your appreciation of the travel industry and the impact that it has. Travel is a vital economic
00:20:08engine, contributing nearly $3 trillion annually and supporting more than 15 million jobs across
00:20:13the United States, more than 10% of our nation's workforce. Travel strengthens America's global
00:20:19standing, encourages business and cultural exchange, and generates significant tax revenue.
00:20:25In 2024, international visitors alone contributed $181 billion to our economy.
00:20:33But we can't count on this continued success without investments and reforms. Our infrastructure
00:20:38is failing to keep pace with the increasing demand for travel. For example, the Transportation
00:20:44Security Administration screened more than 3 million travelers on two occasions last year.
00:20:49By 2028, we're projected to see 100 days per year with that same volume. Our systems from security
00:20:57to customs to air traffic control are outdated and not prepared for this surge.
00:21:03It's not just about inefficiencies. It's also about global competition. Countries like China,
00:21:08India, and Saudi Arabia are making rapid advancements to their travel infrastructure,
00:21:13and we risk falling behind if we don't act swiftly. The next decade presents a tremendous
00:21:19opportunity. Major events like the 2026 World Cup, America's 250th anniversary, and the 2028
00:21:26Olympics are expected to spur domestic travel and bring millions of international travelers
00:21:31to the United States. But without modernizing our travel infrastructure, we will not capture
00:21:36the full economic benefit of these events. President Trump's creation of the White House
00:21:41Task Force for the World Cup is a step in the right direction. But much more is necessary
00:21:46to ensure that our country can maximize the travel opportunity. To help meet these challenges,
00:21:52U.S. travel developed a comprehensive blueprint for the future of American travel,
00:21:57focusing on the following key policy recommendations. Number one, we need greater
00:22:01government leadership. Travel needs dedicated leadership at the highest levels of government.
00:22:07We urge Congress and the administration to prioritize travel policy and create a sustainable
00:22:12model for overseeing travel improvements from end to end. Number two, we've got to address visa
00:22:19processing reform. Long delays in visitor visa processing hurts our ability to attract
00:22:24international visitors. We recommend providing full-strength consular staffing, extending visa
00:22:30validity for vetted lawful visitors, and establishing a national vetting service to lead
00:22:35visa processing. This will ensure the U.S. remains an attractive destination while maintaining strong
00:22:41national security. Number three, we've got to revolutionize TSA screening. Airport screening
00:22:47relies on inconsistent, unpleasant, and manual processes. We recommend immediately ending the
00:22:53diversion of the passenger security fee and increasing technology funding to place new
00:22:59identity verification, on-person screening, and baggage screening technology in every U.S. airport
00:23:05lane within the next five years. This will improve security, reduce wait times, and create a more
00:23:11seamless experience, allowing all travelers to carry water bottles and larger liquids, leave all
00:23:18electronics in their bags, and keep their shoes, jackets, and belts on their person. Finally, we've
00:23:23got to create a world-class customs process. We need to modernize the international arrival process
00:23:29for our guests. We recommend increasing CBP officer staffing at airports of entry while using
00:23:35biometric technology and enhanced traveler vetting to reduce processing times. This will allow the
00:23:41automated entry of trusted travelers and returning Americans while enabling CBP officers to focus
00:23:47their inspection efforts on unknown individuals. These four steps are critical to ensuring the U.S.
00:23:54remains a global leader in travel and that our infrastructure can handle the increasing demand.
00:24:00The status quo is not an option. Travel demand is growing, our infrastructure is aging, and global
00:24:06competitors are moving quickly. If we fail to act, we risk losing economic opportunities,
00:24:13diminishing America's competitive edge, and foregoing millions of foreign visitors. Thank
00:24:19you for your time and consideration. I look forward to answering any questions you may have.
00:24:23Thank you, Mr. Friedman. Now I recognize Mr. Gruen for five minutes to summarize his opening statement.
00:24:30Good morning, Chairman Jimenez, Ranking Member McIver, and honorable members of the Transportation
00:24:36and Maritime Security Subcommittee. My name is John Gruen and I am the Chief Executive Officer
00:24:41of Fordham Technologies. I'm grateful for the opportunity to testify today on the security of
00:24:47upcoming international events. Fordham was founded in 2016 to develop and produce the technology
00:24:54needed to defeat drones. We've become a global leader in drone detection and mitigation, focused
00:25:00on systems that can operate safely in the populated areas and in the national airspace.
00:25:07Our technology is currently deployed by CBP at the southern border, on U.S. military bases,
00:25:13and at critical infrastructure sites worldwide. Fordham also provided counter-drone solutions to
00:25:20the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, the 2022 World Cup Games in Qatar, and the recent inauguration
00:25:28of President Trump here in D.C. Over the next decade, the United States will host
00:25:34multiple major international sporting events, and as we approach these global events, it is vital
00:25:40that we assess today's threat landscape and act now to lower the risk of incidents. As you are
00:25:46well aware, the occurrence of drone threats has surged in recent years, with the Department of
00:25:51Defense and Homeland Security reporting thousands of unauthorized drone incidents annually.
00:25:58Recent domestic drone incidents, like the collision with a firefighting aircraft in Los Angeles
00:26:04and one that halted an NFL playoff game, are warnings of what's to come if we don't act.
00:26:10Another example includes the incursion that occurred over Joint Base Langley-Eustis in 2023,
00:26:17which triggered a month-long interagency attempt to deploy counter-drone assets to no avail.
00:26:24In this incident, standard detection and defeat systems failed,
00:26:30offering no advance warning of incoming drones or means to defeat what should have been considered
00:26:36a clear and present danger. This event highlighted a new category of threats we are facing,
00:26:43dark drones, aircraft designed to evade detection by not emitting RF signals.
00:26:51To protect sensitive sites and large public gatherings, dark drone detection
00:26:56and kinetic mitigation must be the core of any successful counter-drone system.
00:27:03Thankfully, we do have the technology to defeat rogue drones before they cause harm. Companies
00:27:09like mine have developed AI-powered sensors necessary to identify the threats, including
00:27:16dark drones, as well as autonomous interceptor drones capable of safely taking down the threats.
00:27:23Our system intercepts drones with an aerial net capture system and tows them to predetermined
00:27:30locations, ensuring the safety of bystanders and allowing for forensics on the captured drone.
00:27:38As I mentioned, this technology has protected spectators at the World Cup,
00:27:42Olympics, and at other significant events before. We must field these defensive solutions at scale
00:27:49in the homeland now, as time is a critical aspect in fielding an effective counter-drone system.
00:27:57Based on our experience, counter-drone systems must start to be deployed 12 months before the
00:28:02event to allow time for system delivery, site analysis, and operational training. With the
00:28:092026 World Cup just over a year away, federal agencies must be given the tools and authorities
00:28:15they need, and local law enforcement must be empowered to respond to drone threats quickly
00:28:21and effectively. Currently, counter-drone authorities are spread across multiple agencies
00:28:26with delayed abilities to mitigate known threats. In the instance of a drone is detected and
00:28:32determined to be a danger, authorized federal personnel must be present and still request
00:28:38explicit clearance to take mitigation action. The chaos that ensued when drone activity disrupted
00:28:45flights at Newark Airport last year is a glaring example of our inability to respond to drone
00:28:51threats in real time. I commend this committee's thoughtful bipartisan work to resolve this
00:28:57challenge through H.R. 8610 last year and believe this bill should be passed swiftly in the new
00:29:03Congress. We need centralized, streamlined, counter-drone processes now and we must delegate
00:29:11mitigation authority to state and local law enforcement. Their involvement is critical for
00:29:16faster response and better security at a 12-plus city event like the World Cup where federal
00:29:22resources will be stretched thin. Thank you and I look forward to answering your questions.
00:29:28Thank you, Mr. Gruen. I now recognize Dr. Kelly for five minutes to summarize his opening statements.
00:29:35Chairman Jimenez, Ranking Member McIver, Chairman Green, Ranking Member Thompson, and members of
00:29:43the subcommittee, my name is Everett Kelly. I am the National President of the American Federation
00:29:48of Government Employees, AFGE, and on behalf of over 820,000 federal and D.C. government workers
00:29:57represented by my union, including more than 47,000 transportation security officers,
00:30:03I appreciate the opportunity to testify today. The decision by Secretary of Homeland Security
00:30:11Christy Nomes to unilaterally rescind the 2024 collective bargaining agreement between AFGE and
00:30:18the Transportation Security Administration has created an unprecedented crisis for TSOs
00:30:23at a time when our nation's aviation security system faces increasing demands. This decision
00:30:30undermines workforce stability and aviation security as we prepare for significant international
00:30:36events like America's 250th birthday next year and the Summer Olympic Games in 2028.
00:30:43Since 2011, AFGE has worked with TSA to establish a framework for genuine collective bargaining that
00:30:50balances aviation security needs with workers' rights. Our agreement has strengthened workplace
00:30:56policies while maintaining TSA's operational flexibilities. The 2024 CBA marked a significant
00:31:05milestone providing long-term stability and predictable working conditions for TSOs while
00:31:10supporting TSA's mission. The abrupt termination of this agreement by Secretary Nomes has dismantled
00:31:18years of progress. This action has left over 47,000 TSOs vulnerable to arbitrary
00:31:25management decisions undermining morale and creating instability within the TSA's workforce.
00:31:31Secretary Nomes' decision to rescind our CBA has created immediate uncertainty for TSOs who relied
00:31:38on this protection for predictable working conditions and without established procedures
00:31:44for ship bidding, leaves approval, or grievance resolution, TSOs face arbitrary decisions that
00:31:50undermine morale and job satisfaction. This instability will lead to higher turnover rates,
00:31:58a direct threat to aviation security as experienced officers leave their post. The timing could not
00:32:05be worse. Major interaction and international events will significantly increase travelers'
00:32:11volumes in the coming years, requiring a fully staffed and motivated workforce operating under
00:32:17standardized procedures. Workforce instability threatens screening consistencies and efficiencies
00:32:24during these critical periods when heightened security diligence is essential. To address this
00:32:30crisis, Congress must take immediate action, and this is an ask. First, AFG urges Congress to pass
00:32:37legislation to codify collective bargaining rights for TSOs. AFG strongly supports the Rights for
00:32:43TSA Workforce Act, H.R. 2086, introduced by Ranking Member Bennett-Thompson. This
00:32:51bipartisan legislation will provide permanence to TSOs' labor rights under Title V of the U.S.
00:32:59Code, ensuring fair grievance procedures and merit system protection board appeal rights. Congress
00:33:04needs to prioritize this legislation. Second, AFGE asks Congress to restore a rescinded collective
00:33:12bargaining agreement. Congress needs to pass legislation mandating the reinstatement of 2024
00:33:19CBA immediately to restore stability to the TSA workforce. Finally, Congress needs to utilize the
00:33:25oversight authority Congress must investigate Secretary Nome's decisions through public
00:33:30hearing that examine its legal basis and factual justification. DHS officials should be required
00:33:36to provide evidence supporting their claim against AFGE while explaining how this action aligns with
00:33:41national security priorities. The decision to rescind the 2024 collective bargaining agreement
00:33:46represents an unprecedented attack on workers' rights that threatens aviation security in a
00:33:52critical time for our nation. TSOs perform vital functions in protecting America's transportation
00:33:57system. They deserve dignity, respect, and fair working conditions provided through binding
00:34:02agreements negotiated on their behalf. AFGE remains committed to fighting for TSOs' rights
00:34:09while working with Congress to find solutions that balance labor protections with aviation
00:34:14security needs. So thank you for holding this hearing today and I look forward to answering
00:34:19any question that you might have. Thank you. Thank you, Dr. Kelly. Members will be recognized
00:34:25in order of seniority for their five minutes of questioning and I recognize myself for
00:34:29five minutes of questioning. Mr. Freeman, have we ever reached, I know that we had the pandemic and
00:34:38then what was the the highest year that we had international passengers in the United States?
00:34:43The highest year for international travel was 2018. We have gone down or remained below that
00:34:48every year since. We, at the end of last year, were only at about 90 percent of where we were
00:34:53pre-pandemic. So the U.S. continues to struggle to welcome international visitors in the numbers
00:34:58we previously did. Visa coming into this year, visa concerns, custom concerns were top reasons
00:35:04for that. We can't ignore the strength of the dollar. We can't ignore our economy versus others
00:35:09coming into this year. But the issues that were within our control were 500 day plus wait times
00:35:14to get an interview for a visa, multi-hour waits to get through customs. Both of those were big
00:35:20deterrents for foreign travelers. Was that a reality before the Trump administration or has
00:35:25that just happened in the last 60 days? We've ebbed and flowed in terms of where we are on visa
00:35:31wait times. The lowest we've ever been was during the Obama administration where all consulates
00:35:35around the world process visas in two weeks or less. That has ebbed and flowed ever since. There
00:35:40were successes during the Trump term. There were more struggles coming out of the pandemic. We have
00:35:47really struggled to get the consular officials we need around the world and to get these visa
00:35:52wait times down. How do we end up with wait times of two weeks to 500 days? How did that happen?
00:35:58When you look at what happened post-pandemic or in the early days of the pandemic, all these
00:36:02foreign service officers came back home. They were slow to get back out to their consulates around
00:36:07the world. Processing visas is also the lowest rung on the totem pole of jobs within the foreign
00:36:14service officer community. It's not the most desired job out there. That's why we've recommended
00:36:19an alternative approach to doing this. If we want to get all wait times down to 30 days or less,
00:36:24which is something the United States of America should aspire to do, we need to take a new look
00:36:28at how we do this. These fees that foreign travelers pay can cover the cost of creating
00:36:33a new service that processes travelers. There's no need for foreign service officers to do this.
00:36:38There's a better way to do it. We think we could also use kind of emergency SWAT teams whenever
00:36:43wait times get high. We could send these officers or these officials into jurisdictions where they
00:36:48get high. The United States could be the most secure nation in the world and also the most
00:36:53efficient when it comes to processing travelers. But we lack technology, we lack the manpower,
00:36:59and we have lacked the manpower and technology for some time in order to do that. And also
00:37:03probably policy, right? I'm sorry? Policy. Manpower has been an enormous issue. Technology is an even
00:37:11bigger issue. I think the will to get it done is the largest issue, right? Where is the goal,
00:37:16right? We don't have a goal when it comes to processing visas. At the end of the Biden
00:37:20administration, they established a goal of 90 days or less. If we achieved that goal, we would have
00:37:24still been last in the world when it comes to processing visas. This is at the end of the Biden
00:37:28administration? The end of the November of the Biden administration. We need to have greater
00:37:33aspirations when it comes to how we welcome travelers into this country. They want to do
00:37:37nothing more. They'd come here, spend their money, and go home and tell their family and
00:37:41friends what a great time they had. So the Biden administration was in close to four years,
00:37:45basically right at the end of his administration, and decided, well, maybe we're going to have a
00:37:4990-day period versus the 500-day period that some of these visas have taken? There's no doubt that
00:37:56the wait times peaked coming out of COVID. There were steps taken. It was a little too little too
00:38:01late. We're hopeful we can find bipartisan support to be more efficient in the future.
00:38:06By the way, I agree that the passenger security fee that has been diverted for a number of years
00:38:16needs to be fully invested in TSA. I don't believe it. You're going to be paying for
00:38:22something. You're saying I'm paying a passenger security fee. It should be for passenger security.
00:38:27That's a novel concept, I think, here in the federal government. I think that that can be
00:38:31set for administrations on both sides of the aisle. So I would hope, I know that one of my
00:38:38colleagues, Nick Lillo, had a bill to make sure that the passenger fee went to technology, etc.,
00:38:46that we need a TSA. I certainly support that. I think we need to do more of that. The fact
00:38:52that we're not going to be upgrading our systems to the middle of 2040s, that's totally unacceptable.
00:38:59Mr. Gruen, in terms of drones, and I only have about 30 seconds left,
00:39:07I found it interesting that you said that even if you put your technology, say, at all these
00:39:12stadiums, etc., to protect, that it would take a federal individual to say, go ahead and knock that
00:39:17drone out of the sky, that a local law enforcement could not make that call on its own to protect
00:39:23its own citizens? Correct. The local law enforcement, state and local, do not have
00:39:28the current authorities. Even federal have it only authorized in temporary durations,
00:39:33and only certain agencies. Fair enough. Okay. Maybe I'll come back to a second round. With that,
00:39:40I yield back, and now I recognize the ranking member, the gentleman from New Jersey.
00:39:45Thank you so much, Chairman. For many years, we all know that TSA experienced very high
00:39:52attrition rates among its frontline officers. AFG worked for many years to advocate for better
00:39:58pay for TSOs, to put them on the same pay scale as other federal workers and help address
00:40:04attrition. In 2023, when pay raises for TSOs finally went into effect, TSA's attrition rate
00:40:11dropped nearly half. President Kelly, with the Trump administration now trying to bust TSO's
00:40:18union, do you expect attrition rates to rise again? How would higher attrition rates affect
00:40:23the security of commercial travel as well as wait times at checkpoints? Thank you for the
00:40:28question. I certainly think that it will affect attrition rates because, as we all know,
00:40:34the attrition rate went down more than half because there was a CBA, because there was adequate pay,
00:40:40because there were some rights for these employees on the job. They felt very secure.
00:40:46The morale was up, but now that they don't have a CBA, it was certainly, I expect the attrition
00:40:52rate to go back to where it was or maybe even below it, because they don't have any protection,
00:40:58they don't have any morale that seemed to be going down. As I travel to airports and talk to various
00:41:04warrants, you know, we all see that. So I think that you will see it go completely south. I think
00:41:09that wait time will be the result of this attrition rates going back because you're talking about now
00:41:17employee burnout, you know, and all these types of things that's going to happen that's going to
00:41:20affect wait time. Thank you. Mr. Freeman, earlier this year the press reported on the document
00:41:27listing options House Republicans are considering including in their reconciliation bill.
00:41:33The document included proposals for increasing the passenger security fee, passengers pay on
00:41:38each airline ticket, and extending the diversion of fee collections away from TSA's budget to help
00:41:44fund tax cuts. What is the U.S. Travel Association's position on extending fee diversions
00:41:51away from TSA's budget? TSA plays a critical role in the travel process. We value our partnership
00:41:57with TSA. We believe that TSA needs to better balance its funding between technology and staffing.
00:42:04To do that, it needs to maintain all of the resources it achieves through the transportation
00:42:10security fee. As the chairman said, none of that money should be diverted. It's a violation of every
00:42:15traveler that's out there who is expecting the contributions they're making when they buy that
00:42:20airline ticket to be supporting the travel process. And how we do that through both technology
00:42:25and staffing is a critical question. Thank you for that. In my opening statement I talked about
00:42:31the decrease in visit visitation from Canadians and you talked a little bit about just the
00:42:38decrease and the differences in between travel currently right now. How will
00:42:44these reductions in Canadian visitors to the U.S. impact the travel industry and economy,
00:42:49in your opinion? If indeed we have a decline in Canadian visitation, it will be significant
00:42:54in terms of the effect on our economy. A 10 percent decline in Canadian travelers would cost
00:42:59the market about two billion dollars in spending. Canada is critical to the United States. It's
00:43:05critical that we send the message that we want Canadian visitors to come. We've seen tensions
00:43:10in the past between nations. That doesn't need to become a part of the travel process. We'd like to
00:43:15see that clear message right now that Canadians, Europeans, all travelers are encouraged to come
00:43:22to the United States. That message could be sent more loudly right now. Thank you, Mr. Freeman.
00:43:26With that, I yield back. Thank you. And I recognize the gentleman from Arizona, Mr. Crane.
00:43:33Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This is a very important hearing today, talking about travel into the U.S.
00:43:39and some of the big events that we have coming up, like the Olympics and the World Cup.
00:43:47Mr. Freeman, I want to start with you. According to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics,
00:43:51TSA has either halted data collection or has over classified information on prohibitive
00:43:59items detected and ceased by TSA since 2008. My concern that TSA purposely hasn't collected data
00:44:08or is over classifying data to hide embarrassing statistics that show that they routinely fail
00:44:14what the industry calls covert tests. These tests are an event where an undercover operative
00:44:20from the agency tests security by attempting to smuggle prohibited items through TSA.
00:44:26In 2015, DHS OIG John Roth issued a scathing report highlighting under the Obama administration,
00:44:33the OIG found that 96 percent of instances TSA officers used advanced imaging technology,
00:44:42or AIT, at eight airports failed to detect hidden threat items. AIT is still in use today at U.S.
00:44:51airports by TSA. The agency doesn't have any data to suggest that these figures from 2015 have
00:44:58improved in 2025. I'm currently working with the chairman on drafting a bill that would require
00:45:04TSA to submit the results of all covert testing and or red teaming testing to the Committee on
00:45:11Homeland Security, and I hope this bill can be bipartisan. My question, sir, and please answer
00:45:18briefly. With TSA's covert test failures coupled with the fact that the agency hasn't collected
00:45:24or submitted data on failed covert testing in recent years, how can Congress ensure that TSA
00:45:29is capable of handling incoming travelers from around the world for upcoming events like America's
00:45:35250th birthday, the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the 2028 Summer Olympics? Thank you, Congressman. TSA's
00:45:43success is critical to all travelers. Travelers need confidence in their safety, in their security,
00:45:48or else they're simply not going to travel. So we share your concern with anything that would suggest
00:45:54that the process is anything but as safe and secure as it could be. TSA's accountability is to you,
00:46:01it's to Congress, it's to the traveling public. So we support your efforts to find ways to ensure
00:46:07that the technology, the staffing levels are working in the ways that they need to work. I will
00:46:11point out that in recent years, while staffing has increased, spending on staffing has increased,
00:46:17spending on technology has decreased. The technology that is so desperately needed in the
00:46:21airports is not slated to get into the airports until the 2040s. We need to be more urgent about
00:46:27providing the best technology and as quickly as we can to TSA to ensure the safety and security
00:46:33of the traveling public. Were you aware of that statistic that I read you, that under the Obama
00:46:39administration, OIG found that in 96 percent, the TSA officers using advanced image technology failed
00:46:48their tests when employees from the TSA tried to smuggle weapons, bombs, knives, guns, etc.
00:46:57through their security checkpoints? I was not aware of that specific statistic. What do you think
00:47:01about that, sir? It sounds like every day we've got work to do. We've got work to do to get better.
00:47:06We've got to make sure we've got the right training. We've got the right technology. We've
00:47:09got the right people in place. Security, safety is fundamental to people traveling. If people don't
00:47:16have that confidence, we will see a decline in travel. It's something that is of the utmost
00:47:20importance and you certainly have our support. What about you, Mr. Gruen? Were you aware of that?
00:47:27I was not aware of that statistic. What do you think about the fact that they're no longer reporting
00:47:32those numbers?
00:47:36I mean, again, oversight and requiring an agency to do their job is essential to good governance.
00:47:44Okay. Mr. Freeman, during the 2024 fourth annual Future of Travel Mobility Conference, you mentioned
00:47:49the need to grasp the opportunity right in front of us when talking about a decade of sporting
00:47:54events that will make the U.S. the most sought-after destination. Modernizing our TSA and travel
00:48:00processing procedures are included. My question is, please answer briefly, how should TSA and
00:48:05Congress look at the use of AI for passenger processing to scan faces and directly cross
00:48:10reference international travelers with criminal databases? It was at that same conference that
00:48:15I interviewed former TSA Administrator Pekoske, who demonstrated tremendous leadership during his
00:48:21time within TSA and partnership with the private sector. I think, based on my experience with
00:48:27Administrator Pekoske, TSA was going down the right road in terms of what it looks at at AI.
00:48:32We see enormous potential. The simple truth is that AI can detect things that the human eye will
00:48:37miss, and we see enormous potential in technology. Thank you. I yield back. Thank you, and I recognize
00:48:44the ranking member of the committee, the gentleman from Mississippi, Mr. Thompson.
00:48:48Thank you so much, and I think it's interesting to respond that President Trump had nominated
00:48:57Mr. Pekoske to serve as the TSA Administrator, and he was allowed a second term, but in the
00:49:06midst of it, he was fired. I think that's unfortunate. He had done a good job,
00:49:12and I think he deserved a better departure ramp than what he received, because,
00:49:22from my vantage point, both Democrats and Republicans saw his vision for moving the
00:49:29agency forward. The other thing I'd like to say is that TSA and its workers and technology
00:49:38have managed a successful screening effort, so there's been nothing successful up to this point.
00:49:49That doesn't mean things hadn't gotten through. It just hadn't been successful.
00:49:53You can call it luck or whatever, but we also believe that technology is a force multiplier
00:50:01for security in all of this. There are only so many men and women we can put
00:50:07in airports and do what we do, other than that technology can't do a better job.
00:50:17It's unfortunate that we've had several opportunities to invest in more technology,
00:50:23and we've not had the kind of bipartisan support to finance that technology, but we have to do it.
00:50:30I look forward to doing it. One of the things we're talking about, the different events headed
00:50:36to this country in the not-too-distant future. Mr. Freeman, my concern is that
00:50:44are you or your organization aware of what the administration is doing in its screening
00:50:52protocols that are creating this discomfort? Have you seen anything in writing on those
00:51:00protocols or anything? We've had discussions with Customs and Border Protection to understand
00:51:06what policies are in place, what if any policies have changed. My understanding is that policies
00:51:11have not changed, but media coverage has certainly increased. We're aware of that.
00:51:15We're aware of the concern that travelers have. We're concerned about anything that would
00:51:21discourage travelers from wanting to visit the United States. So just like with Canada,
00:51:25it's clear that we have work to do to get a message out that we seek these travelers. We want
00:51:30them bringing their spending here. We would be concerned about anything that would drive them to
00:51:35take their spending somewhere else. So with that lack of clarity at this point, it is having an
00:51:42adverse impact on people coming to the U.S. There is significant anecdotal evidence. I think we need
00:51:48to see the data. We're still waiting on the data from the Department of Commerce to better
00:51:52understand what is happening. But again, we're on our toes. We see the concern that's out there,
00:51:59and that leaves us obviously communicating to the administration and various agencies the need
00:52:06to provide travelers with the confidence that they desire. Thank you. President Kelly,
00:52:13can you just describe for the committee the benefits of having a federalized workforce?
00:52:25Number one, they have a CBA, and that CBA was negotiated by
00:52:34Administrator Prakowski, who was appointed by President Trump. He negotiated a CBA that would
00:52:42bring about some stability inside of the workforce. Not only that, you're free of
00:52:48any form of striking, because if you had a private contractor, they can unionize and go on strike
00:52:57any day. The federal system cannot strike. Do not talk about going on strike. You talk about
00:53:06morale. We've already shown that attrition rate went down about 50 percent, and we will continue
00:53:14to see attrition rates go down when you have a unionized federal workforce. You have flexibility.
00:53:22That's the thing that I like about the contract. It allows so much flexibility for the management
00:53:29to do what they need to do in the event of a crisis. It's insurmountable of the benefits that
00:53:36would be for this TSA. Thank you very much. TSA, we created after 9-11 because the current
00:53:47protocol for screening virtually didn't exist before that. It's the new kid on the block.
00:53:55We've been successful in not having, as I indicated, a successful person getting on a plane
00:54:03and causing that kind of crisis, but it's a work in progress. I mean, with technology that's
00:54:10growing, we still have to continue to be as best we can. Our adversaries are constantly trying to
00:54:20figure out how they can beat the system. In reality, it's technology that's going to catch
00:54:27them. I look forward to continuing this discussion. I yield back, Mr. Chair.
00:54:34Thank you. We're going to go through a second round of questioning. I yield myself
00:54:40five minutes for questioning. Mr. Freeman, you talked about the visa process and how we can
00:54:50accelerate that. Could you be a little bit more specific exactly what you're talking about in
00:54:54order to accelerate the visa process and take it down from 300 days to something a little bit more
00:54:59reasonable? Yeah, there are multiple consulates around the world right now. Colombia is the best
00:55:03example where wait times exceed 500 days to get an interview for a visa. We've had similar wait
00:55:08times in India. In years past, we had wait times like that in Brazil where they've been successful
00:55:14recently in bringing those wait times down. I think there are several elements to this. One,
00:55:20we simply have to establish a goal as a country. How well do we want to process visas regardless
00:55:26of what the demand may be? Once we establish that goal, what's the technique for getting there?
00:55:32Our proposal is to move things out of foreign service officers to create a new national vetting
00:55:38service where people apply for that job. They sign up for that job. That's what they want to do.
00:55:43Their job is to process visas that those employees are paid for by the fees that travelers
00:55:50pay when they apply for visas. There's no additional cost to U.S. taxpayers. The key,
00:55:56though, is having individuals who actually desire to be in this role. It's what they signed up for.
00:56:01You don't get that today. You don't get that because you've got, again, people on the lowest
00:56:05rung of the totem pole. This is a job they don't want to do in many parts around the world. They're
00:56:11only doing one shift a day. They work from, let's say, nine to three and the consulate closes.
00:56:16We've also got to get more creative in those situations. There are countries where we only
00:56:21have four or five consulates for countries as big as the United States. How do we get more creative
00:56:26in terms of how we then process those visas? Where does videoconferencing come in? We've all
00:56:31learned the power and the limitations of videoconferencing. How can that play a role
00:56:35when it comes to processing visas? Finally, when we look at the validity period of visas,
00:56:40visas that are good for six months or one year, is it possible to make those visas good for two
00:56:44years? When we have travelers who have come here, abided by our rules, left on time, can we allow
00:56:51their, when their visa expires, can we allow rapid recertification of that visa? There are a number
00:56:59of things that we can follow through. If we simply have the will to do it, we establish a goal,
00:57:04and we haven't, and I think this is a bipartisan challenge we've confronted, we just simply haven't
00:57:10had that zeal within the State Department or the leadership on Capitol Hill or in the White House
00:57:16to demand that from the State Department. And if we did that, would you see an increase in travel?
00:57:22Visas for the 45 percent of our travelers who are required to get a visa,
00:57:27visa access is a bigger concern than the cost of travel. I think that tells us everything we need
00:57:33to know. It's not the cost of coming to the United States, it's the obstacle to getting the visa
00:57:38that is the biggest deterrent. Fair enough. Now, in terms of technology,
00:57:45and Representative Crain, you know, brought out, you know, a very good statistic,
00:57:49and it seems to me that technology has improved in the last 10 years,
00:57:54has to, right, especially with the advent of artificial intelligence.
00:57:58Is there technology now that will self-identify threats and give cues to the TSA, you know,
00:58:11individual on the screen to say, hey, you need to look at this, this, this, and that,
00:58:15that would help, you know, reduce that 96 percent. Is that technology available now?
00:58:21There is significant technology available now that we're not using. Now, when you look at elements
00:58:26of the TSA screening process, there's the identity verification, there's the person screening,
00:58:31there's the baggage screening. I think we've done very well on the identity verification
00:58:36as we've moved to biometrics. I think we have a lot of work to do when it comes to the baggage
00:58:41and the on-person screening of individuals. That's where we have the greatest room for growth.
00:58:45Do you have an estimate of how much that would cost?
00:58:48I believe we've looked at a figure in the neighborhood of, I'm going to use the wrong
00:58:52figure, so I don't want to mention it. We do have that and are happy to give it to the committee.
00:58:56Okay. And so, if we diverted, if we stopped diverting the money,
00:59:02how fast could we implement these new technologies instead of 2040, which I think is a little bit
00:59:07too far out, 20 years from now, okay? And by then, we'll have something else, okay? So,
00:59:12we need to get the technology right. It has to be modular so that as new technologies, you know,
00:59:17come and gets more and more, the technology just gets better, okay, that we need to be able to put
00:59:24that in as quickly as we can, not wait 20 years for that technology to be put in so that 20 years
00:59:30hence, there's something else, okay? So, how much do you think we're going to need?
00:59:35We believe it's reasonable that all of these reforms could take place within the next five
00:59:39years. This is not something we need to look at decades out. Within the next five years,
00:59:43we can give every American traveler the confidence they can keep the water in their bottle,
00:59:46their belt on their pants, their laptop in their bags.
00:59:50Fair enough. All right, I yield back and I recognize a gentlelady from New Jersey.
00:59:57Thank you, Chairman. I just have one follow-up question and it's for Mr. Freeman.
01:00:02You, during your opening statement, even just now, you talked about the United States and how,
01:00:08you know, if we want to be a global leader in travel, we need to do, you know, X, Y, and Z.
01:00:13Do you currently consider the United States at the top of the list as a leader in global travel?
01:00:20The United States is the world's most desired nation to visit. Around the world, this is where
01:00:25travelers want to come. We commissioned a report through Euromonitor about 18 months ago to rank
01:00:31countries based on their travel facilitation, based on their infrastructure, based on their
01:00:36national leadership. The U.S. finished 17th out of 18 countries. Only China finished behind the
01:00:43United States. You are seeing greater coordination, greater spending, greater zeal in countries like
01:00:50Saudi and other parts of the world that recognize just how important travel is to building their
01:00:56economy. And they also recognize that travel doesn't happen by accident. It takes a heck of
01:01:01a lot of coordination. It takes a heck of a lot of planning to make these things happen. Every one of
01:01:06us in this room today are travelers. We all know the hassles with the process. We all know the
01:01:13inefficiencies. We all go through this and look at various points and say, there's got to be a
01:01:17better way to do this. And the answer is there is. Do we have any desire to work together to
01:01:23implement those better ways? Because what we are dealing with today, whether at TSA, at Customs,
01:01:30is not sustainable, and it's not something we should be tolerating. And when was this report
01:01:35done? This report was done and came out early 2024. We're happy to get you a copy of that. Yeah,
01:01:40I would love a copy of that. I just want to thank each of the witnesses for your testimony today
01:01:46and for coming to share with us. I know that this committee hearing is supposed to be about
01:01:51what we are examining ourselves on the global level to prepare for these big events. But there's just
01:01:57lots going on right now that I think we really need to address before we can talk about
01:02:01like being really prepared, being really, really prepared for all of the big events that we have
01:02:08coming up. So thank you so much for all of the information that you provided today.
01:02:12Okay. Oh, with that, I yield back, Mr. Chairman. I want to thank the ranking member. Now I recognize
01:02:18the gentlelady from South Carolina, Ms. Biggs.
01:02:25Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to the witnesses for being here today.
01:02:29As the United States gears up to welcome the world for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028
01:02:38Olympic Games, our national travel infrastructure stands at a crucial juncture,
01:02:44demanding comprehensive readiness. The influx of international visitors for these events
01:02:51will place unprecedented demands on our transportation networks and border security.
01:02:58The recent executive order signed by President Trump creating the World Cup Task Force
01:03:05signifies a critical recognition of the imperative for seamless interagency collaboration.
01:03:14This dedicated task force will be instrumental in strategically preparing our ports of entry,
01:03:22modernizing airport facilities and operations, and fortifying supporting systems such as customs
01:03:30and border protection, security protocols, and transportation logistics. So to Mr. Freeman,
01:03:39how should the World Cup Task Force prioritize its efforts to address operational challenges
01:03:47at our airports and our ports of entry? Thank you for the question, Congresswoman. I think
01:03:53it's critical as the World Cup Task Force gets up and running that first we acknowledge we're
01:03:57already behind the eight ball. The World Cup starts in about 15 months. Other countries are
01:04:02already planning for the 2029 World Cup – I'm sorry, the 2030 World Cup. That planning is already
01:04:07ahead of where we are. So we've got to acknowledge we're already behind the eight ball. I have all
01:04:12the faith in the world and the local destinations that are hosting the World Cup. They have been
01:04:16coordinating. I think they're going to do a great job. The question really becomes in terms of
01:04:22getting people to the games, moving about the U.S. and moving into the United States. I think for the
01:04:27domestic traveler, we're going to see concerns when it comes to moving people through the airports.
01:04:33The demand that we're going to see is basically a Thanksgiving every day for about the 45 days
01:04:38of the World Cup. We all know what it's like traveling on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.
01:04:42That's what we can expect. It begs the question, what are the things we can do to be more efficient
01:04:47during that period? And this task force is critical about aligning the Department of
01:04:51Homeland Security, the Department of Transportation and other relevant agencies to ensure we can meet
01:04:56that demand. For the foreign travelers coming in, the truth is we're already too late for some of
01:05:02them. I mentioned the wait times for Colombians to get a visa. If they don't have their visa now for
01:05:07the World Cup in 26, their window is closed. That's shame on us, right? That's opportunity
01:05:12missed for the United States. And then we've got to identify what are the other markets where that
01:05:16window is already closing and how do we process visas quickly in those markets so we can help
01:05:21those travelers get here. When we know they're coming, customs will be the final area where this
01:05:26task force has to work closely with DHS, with other elements of the government to ensure that we don't
01:05:32have two, three, four hour wait times to get through Miami, to get through LAX, to get through JFK.
01:05:38That is a tremendous concern of ours. There is nothing more predictable than when a plane is
01:05:44going to land, how many people are on it, and who those people are. So there's no excuse to not be
01:05:49staffed appropriately to move these travelers through and that's where the task force needs to
01:05:54be focused. Thank you so much for your insight. My second question, Mr. Gruen, with major
01:06:02international events acting as high profile targets for bad actors, how do you think the
01:06:08task force should integrate threat intelligence, interagency coordination, and emerging technologies
01:06:16like counter-USS and AI-enabled surveillance into the strategic planning? Thank you, Congresswoman.
01:06:24Your second point, technology needs to be procured and deployed now. So we recommend 12
01:06:32months out from events to really get the technology on the ground, get the personnel trained,
01:06:40and run through different scenarios to mitigate threats. So we believe the task force needs to
01:06:48do that aspect. Part of that is also going to be authorities, to enable local and state law
01:06:52enforcement to have the authorities to mitigate large threats such as drones when they're on the
01:07:00ground. So again, prioritizing that we are behind the power curve on this. We need the task force
01:07:09to prioritize the procurement and deployment of technologies and the training of personnel so that
01:07:14we have adequate protection. Thank you so much. My time has expired, so I yield back.
01:07:21Thank you, and I recognize the gentleman from Arizona, Mr. Crane, for his second round of
01:07:25questioning. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Gruen, I find your testimony and experience
01:07:31very interesting and important to this panel today. You're a former Navy SEAL, is that correct?
01:07:40Yes, Congressman. So you have a lot of background in unconventional warfare?
01:07:45I do. And now you're currently working in the counter drone space?
01:07:49Correct. Have you spent any time overseas in Ukraine?
01:07:54Yes. Yep. Do you feel that Americans and our agencies understand the gravity of what's
01:08:01happening overseas and how it's transforming modern warfare? Not at a scale that's necessary.
01:08:09There certainly are pockets of individuals who are aware of the threat and are working diligently
01:08:16to address it, but as a whole nation, absolutely not. Do you believe that the U.S. is prepared to
01:08:22protect its citizens and infrastructure from drone attacks and some of these major events
01:08:26that we're talking about coming up in the U.S.? Not currently. Give us an idea of what that could
01:08:31look like, sir. The drone threat is so wide-ranging that it is hard to sometimes grasp, because
01:08:41you have kind of the obvious situation of a stadium where you may have DJI-type drones
01:08:49come into the stadium, either drop powders or be explosive in themselves and do actual physical
01:08:56damage to the attendees. You also have a lot of other types of operational scenarios, like
01:09:03airports. With all these folks that are trying to arrive, if you have a drone that goes and parks
01:09:08itself on a runway, the entire operation is going to shut down. It doesn't even have to explode.
01:09:13You can just sit there, and you have already disrupted air travel to a level that we have not
01:09:17seen. We're not prepared for it. Right. It's a lot easier to get some type of explosive into a
01:09:24stadium when a drone doesn't have to go through some magnetometer, is that correct? Absolutely.
01:09:28It's really not that expensive either for our enemies to use drone warfare to attack us, is it?
01:09:33Absolutely not. Sir, you said, I believe in your testimony, that your company has been
01:09:38tasked to do counter-drone operations around key U.S. sites. Can you expound on that a little bit?
01:09:44Yes. We are working with the Department of Defense to do some initial base deployments,
01:09:51so both OCONUS and CONUS. In particular, in response to the New York, New Jersey drone
01:09:59threats at the end of last year, we're at Picatinny Arsenal now with an Army program of record,
01:10:04but we've also deployed to Stewart Air National Guard Base with a coalition of industry partners
01:10:09under NORTHCOM, and all to field the latest capabilities to really get both at the detection,
01:10:16identification aspect, and then have on-hand mitigation capability when authorized.
01:10:23When you guys are doing these operations, are we talking about
01:10:28lone wolf bad actors? Are we talking about nation states that you guys are trying to
01:10:32prevent from flying over these sites? The scary part about this, Congressman,
01:10:37is we don't have good fidelity on that information. We know that there are drones of
01:10:43various sizes, so ones that cannot be easily procured off of an Amazon or an Alibaba. You
01:10:50have larger drones, and you have drones, multiple drones at a time, so the fact that we don't know
01:10:56who's operating these drones is the real problem. Are drones being used right now within the U.S.
01:11:02to conduct espionage? Absolutely. Absolutely. Can you expound on that anymore?
01:11:09There are briefings from the government themselves at different classification levels,
01:11:15but we know that there are other nation states or proxies that are operating
01:11:21near our borders and even particularly in the homeland, different sites.
01:11:27Most people probably aren't aware that the U.S. Capitol Police are currently using tariff
01:11:31regulation section 16.2.90 model rockets and boats to mitigate drone threats on Capitol grounds.
01:11:40Congress must do its part to properly equip Capitol Police for that reason.
01:11:44On National Police Week, I plan to introduce the U.S. Capitol Police Empowerment Act of 2025 to
01:11:49authorize the U.S. Capitol Police to mitigate drone threats on the Capitol complex. The bill
01:11:54was drafted with input from the House Admin, Judiciary, Transportation and Infrastructure,
01:11:59and Homeland Security committees. I'm hoping that everybody will support this bill as it should be
01:12:06bipartisan. I do have a video that I'd like to play of some of the drone capabilities
01:12:12from your company, Mr. Gruen.
01:12:21Now, Mr. Gruen, are we watching in real time your company's drones being able to
01:12:27shoot out nets and capture enemy drones?
01:12:32Correct, Congressman.
01:12:32Why is that so important, sir?
01:12:35We're called the low collateral effect interceptor inside government agencies because
01:12:42the way, by catching with a net, we either keep it under a tether and drop it somewhere that's
01:12:48been rendered safe where law enforcement can look at the drone, get forensics, etc.
01:12:54So it's the collateral damage aspect. You're also not infringing on any publicly identifiable
01:13:01information. It's not hacking a signal. It's not getting personnel, personal information off of
01:13:06anything. So the combination of that, the lack of PII and the low collateral is what makes it so
01:13:12impactful.
01:13:13Mr. Chairman, I know my time has expired, but I'd like to enter into the record
01:13:17five separate articles.
01:13:20Without objection, so ordered.
01:13:24I've got number one, U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics,
01:13:28prohibited items intercepted at airport screening checkpoints.
01:13:31Number two, Defense Daily, TSA's own covert testing showed failures, DHS IG says.
01:13:38Number three, ABC News, TSA fails most tests in latest undercover operation at U.S. airports.
01:13:44Number four, no drone zone, United States Capitol Police.
01:13:47And number five, a copy of my bill, the U.S. CP Empowerment Act of 2025.
01:13:52So ordered.
01:13:54The gentleman's time has expired.
01:13:56I now recognize the gentlewoman from South Carolina for her second round of questioning.
01:14:03Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
01:14:04So TSA has made progress in deploying biometric screening, digital IDs, and automated security
01:14:12lanes, but outdated systems and workforce shortages still slow down those checkpoints.
01:14:20Republicans have long advocated for smart investments in innovative technologies that
01:14:26can improve the performance and reduce reliance on biological federal workforces.
01:14:32So Mr. Freeman, given TSA's growing use of AI-driven threat detection and facial recognition,
01:14:40how far are we from replacing outdated manual processes at checkpoints with fully automated
01:14:50systems?
01:14:51Thank you, Congresswoman.
01:14:52I think the first thing to acknowledge is what TSA has done well is give travelers around
01:14:57the country, no matter what airport they're at, a sense of not just security, but also
01:15:02a sense of consistency.
01:15:03The biggest thing that frustrates travelers is when you go through one airport, you have
01:15:06a different experience when you go through another airport.
01:15:09TSA has ensured that we have that degree of consistency, and we applaud them for it.
01:15:13Some of that consistency includes exactly what you're talking about.
01:15:16We're already moving towards more of that automated system.
01:15:20We see some of that with the identity verification that's taking place.
01:15:24We see that with digital ID that happens and is working with the airlines, with Delta,
01:15:29United, with American.
01:15:31If you fly through Newark and Atlanta, some of these other major hubs, Detroit, you can
01:15:36go through the entire process just based on your facial biometrics.
01:15:39It's a wonderful experience.
01:15:41It's incredibly efficient.
01:15:43Travelers are moving through in seven seconds or less using that technology.
01:15:47So I think we're already there.
01:15:49The question is, how quickly can we continue to build on this?
01:15:52How do we take it beyond the identity verification and use it for baggage screening, use it for
01:15:57individual screening?
01:15:59That's where there's so much more opportunity.
01:16:01There's opportunities for the private sector to work more closely with TSA to help realize
01:16:06some of these opportunities.
01:16:07There's so much debate about privatized TSA, not privatized TSA.
01:16:12What there is is a great opportunity for TSA, which has done some very good things, to work
01:16:16more closely with the private sector and really build a partnership here that can give the
01:16:20travelers the experience they desire.
01:16:24Just following up with that, are there successful models abroad that the U.S. should consider
01:16:30adapting to our aviation environment?
01:16:33There are absolutely lessons learned in the U.K. and other parts of the world.
01:16:38In fact, the report that we put out earlier this year referenced some of those lessons
01:16:42learned in foreign markets.
01:16:44I don't think there's one market that is the panacea for what we need to do, but there's
01:16:48a combination of lessons learned throughout Europe and in other parts of the world.
01:16:52We're happy to bring those forward.
01:16:54We document several of those in our proposal.
01:16:56And I think we just – sometimes the U.S. acts as if we're the first ones to confront
01:17:00these issues, as if we can't learn from some of our partners around the world.
01:17:04There's no need to reinvent the wheel here.
01:17:06There's some very good things that are done.
01:17:08Europe has made much further strides in terms of allowing people to bring liquids back onto
01:17:13planes, to keep some of their clothes on, their shoes and belts.
01:17:16We can learn from that.
01:17:18And we're hopeful that new TSA leadership will be willing to do that.
01:17:22Thank you so much for your testimony.
01:17:24And I yield back.
01:17:25Thank you to the gentlewoman from South Carolina.
01:17:29I want to thank the witnesses for their valuable testimony and also the members for their questions.
01:17:33The members of the subcommittee may have additional questions for the witnesses, and we would
01:17:37ask the witnesses to respond to these in writing.
01:17:40Pursuant to Committee Rule 7E, the hearing record will be held open for 10 days.
01:17:45Without objection, this subcommittee stands adjourned.