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Alarming Report On TSA Screening Methods In Airports Has Homeland Security Officials Calling For Change

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – The head of the TSA has been booted from his job and airport security is getting a reboot.

The changes come following a failing grade on screenings at checkpoints.

The changes at the top reportedly will not impact what travelers see, at least not at first. But in the wake of this study, Homeland Security is asking for more training of its staff and more security at the nation's airports.

Acting TSA head Melvin Carraway is out, and the race to replace him is underway.

Carraway has been reassigned after an investigation exposed critical flaws in airport safety under his leadership.

Posing as passengers, undercover investigators smuggled dangerous items. In 67 or 70 times, they got through airport security.

Some travelers are not surprised.

"I think the security needs to be reevaluated, because it's not hard to get anything through if you're trying to," says passenger Constance Hayes.

"They'll get us through fast, and it seems like they're kind of rushing, but other times, it seems like they're just chatting to each other and kind of oblivious to what's happening," agrees Mara Rohrer, another passenger.

So-called "red teams" exposed security flaws. The undercover team had a 95% success rate smuggling mock explosives, weapons and potential bomb components through TSA checkpoints.

A source familiar with the classified findings says the findings highlight a need for better technology and more training for the county's 50,000 TSA agents. Experts say the need to correct these flaws is great.

"[Terrorists] base their actions in part on our actions, consistently seeking vulnerabilities, and we've got to do what we can to stay ahead," explains Frank Cilluffo, a former counterterrorism official.

Homeland Security says he is taking the study very seriously and is calling on the Senate to consider the President's pick for new TSA Administrator, Coast Guard Vice Admiral Peter Neffenger.

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