GAO Cites Port-Security Flaws
A Government Accountability Office report being released Tuesday shows gaps in a federal government port-security program, the Associated Press reported.
The report assesses the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism, or C-TPAT, a federal program established following 9/11 to deter potential terrorist strikes via cargo containers that pass through U.S. airports, seaports and land borders.
Under the program, about 8,000 importers, port authorities and cargo carriers are granted benefits such as reduced scrutiny of their cargo, in exchange for submitting security plans that meet U.S. Customs and Border Protection standards, AP reported.
An earlier GAO report on C-TPAT, released in 2005, found that many of companies were receiving the reduced cargo scrutiny without required vetting by Customs, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security, AP reported.
Customs has made some improvements since then, but the new report found that officials still could not guarantee that companies were in compliance, AP said.
GAO urged Customs to require consideration of third-party and outside audits and take steps to certify that companies comply with any additional requested security improvements, AP reported.
It also called for technological improvements to help improve consistency and better information-gathering in Customs’ security checks, AP said.
