Agencies to screen airport security employees

Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The Transportation Department’s inspector general and the Federal Aviation Administration are reviewing passenger screening operations at 14 airports, including the three where hijackers took off Sept. 11.

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is among the 14.

The audits were announced Friday after federal prosecutors accused the company running the security checkpoints of failing to check employees’ backgrounds adequately.

David Barnes, spokesman for Inspector General Kenneth Mead, said the investigators will employee background checks and make sure the workers have been properly trained at all 14 airports.

Separately, FAA investigators next week will audit background checks of all security screeners at the 20 largest airports, the agency said Friday.

Argenbright Security Inc. handles passenger screening at Washington Dulles and Newark airports, where two of the hijacked planes took off. The company also provides security at Boston’s Logan Airport, but does not work for United or American, the airlines whose planes were hijacked from there and crashed into the World Trade Center.

Mead acted after federal prosecutors found that Argenbright had hired criminals to staff security checkpoints at Philadelphia International Airport even after being fined $1 million last year for failing to check the backgrounds of its workers.

In filing a motion against Argenbright on Thursday, U.S. Attorney Patrick Meehan said inspectors found the company failed to do adequate background checks of employees at the 13 other airports.

Federal prosecutors are seeking new sanctions against the firm, and a special Transportation Department enforcement team was sent to the Philadelphia airport to make sure that security officers received thorough background checks before being hired.

Argenbright pleaded guilty last year to violating federal rules on training, testing and conducting background checks on employees. It paid a $1 million fine, was placed on probation for three years and agreed to conduct background checks on employees nationwide.

The latest filing accused Argenbright of still not checking employee backgrounds adequately. Meehan said he wanted new sanctions, including an order that the company regularly audit its workforce and fingerprint all employees.

Argenbright President Bill Barbour said the company was willing to make the changes, including fingerprinting of employees. Barbour disputed allegations that the problems were widespread.

Until June, Argenbright ran security at one concourse at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The company now has no security function at Sea-Tac, but it does have some employees providing wheelchair and other services to passengers in the terminal, airport spokeswoman Deanna Zachrisson said.

She said Sea-Tac officials had been informed Friday that Argenbright would be audited, but they did not know when the audit would take place. She was unsure how many employees Argenbright had at Sea-Tac, or with which airlines the company contracted at the airport.

A call to Argenbright’s office near Sea-Tac was not immediately returned Friday evening.

In addition to Seattle, Boston, Newark and Washington Dulles, the joint FAA-inspector general teams will visit Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Columbus, Ohio; Detroit; Las Vegas; Los Angeles; New York LaGuardia; Philadelphia; Phoenix; Trenton, N.J.; and Washington Reagan National.

Copyright ©2001 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Alina Langbehn, 6, center, and Vera A., 6, right, sit on a swing together at Drew Nielsen Neighborhood Park after school on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett council votes to renovate Drew Nielsen Park

Construction on the $345,000 upgrade could start as early as this fall.

Northshore School District bus driver Stewart O’Leary pictured next to his buses shattered drivers side windshield on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Put me in, coach’: Bus driver back at work after struck by metal bar

Stewart O’Leary, a Northshore employee, has received national attention for his composure during a frightening bus trip.

Lynnwood councilor Joshua Binda speaks during a Lynnwood City Council meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Does the Lynnwood Council VP live in Lynnwood? It’s hard to say.

Josh Binda’s residency has been called into question following an eviction and FEC filings listing an Everett address. He insists he lives in Lynnwood.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

An American Robin picks a berry from a holly tree on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Calling all birders for the annual Great Backyard Bird Count

The Audubon Society will hold its 28th annual Great Backyard… Continue reading

A view of one of the potential locations of the new Aquasox stadium on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024 in Everett, Washington. The site sits between Hewitt Avenue, Broadway, Pacific Avenue and the railroad. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Initial prep work for AquaSox stadium to start, with $200k price tag

The temporary agreement allows some surveying and design work as the city negotiates contracts with designers and builders.

Aaron Kennedy / The Herald
The Joann Fabric and Crafts store at 7601 Evergreen Way, Everett, is one of three stores in Snohomish County that will close as part of the retailer’s larger plan to shutter more than half of its stores nationwide.
Joann store closure plan includes Everett, Arlington, Lynnwood locations

The retail giant filed a motion in court to close approximately 500 stores in the U.S.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.