U.S. port security was the focus of a House Homeland Security Subcommittee hearing. Following 9/11, lawmakers approved multiple bills to enhance the nation’s security. One of them was the Safe Port Act of 2006. One of the provisions, requires the Department of Homeland Security and the Customs and Border Protection agency to implement scanning of all U.S. bound cargo by July of this year.
According to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report released today, it’s uncertain whether DHS and CBP will meet this mandate. In testimony, Representatives with the agencies raised concerns about costs and feasibility.
The CBP’s Field Operations Acting Assistant Commissioner says a vast majority, more than 95% of shipments en route to the U.S. are not scanned prior to reaching a U.S. port.